IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


O 


mi  /i       /<°\% 


bf 


1.0 


I.I 


1.25 


IIM    112.5 


111 


lU 


22 


1.8 


U    III  1.6 


V] 


^^. 


A 


4W  .%^' 


Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


83  WIST  MAIN  STBliT 
WEBSTER,  NY    14SB0 

(716)  aTi^soa 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHM/ICMH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Institute  for  Historical  Microreproductions  /  Institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiques 


:\ 


>v 


> 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Noten/Notes  techniques  et  bibliographiques 


The  Institute  has  attempted  to  obtain  the  best 
original  copy  available  for  filming.  Features  of  this 
copy  which  may  be  bibliographicaily  unique, 
which  may  alter  any  of  the  images  in  the 
reproduction,  or  which  may  significantly  change 
the  usual  method  of  filming,  are  checked  below. 


D 


Coloured  covers/ 
Couvertura  de  couleur 


I      I    Covers  damaged/ 


Couverture  endommagde 

Covers  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Couverture  restaurie  et/ou  pelliculde 

Cover  title  missing/ 

Le  titre  de  couverture  manque 

Coloured  maps/ 

Cartes  giographiques  en  couleur 

Coloured  ink  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  black)/ 
Encre  de  couleur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  plates  and/or  illustrations/ 
Planches  et/ou  illustrutions  en  couleur 

Bound  with  other  material/ 
Rell^  avac  d'autres  documents 


D 


D 


D 


Tight  binding  may  cause  shadows  or  distortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

Lareliure  serr^e  peut  causer  da  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
distorsion  le  long  de  la  mai  ge  intdrieure 

Blank  leaves  added  during  restoration  may 
appear  within  the  text.  Whenever  possible,  these 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  se  peut  que  certaines  pages  blanches  ajouties 
lors  dune  restauration  apparaissent  dans  le  texte, 
mais,  lorsque  cela  Atait  possible,  ces  pages  n'ont 
pas  M  filmAes. 

Additional  comments:/ 
Commentaires  supplimentaires; 


L'Iristitut  a  microfilm^  le  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'ii  lui  a  6X6  possible  de  se  procurer.  Les  details 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  sont  peut-dtre  uniques  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dans  la  mdthode  normaie  de  filmage 
sont  indiquds  ci-dessous. 


I      I    Coloured  pages/ 


Pages  de  couleur 

Pages  damaged/ 
Pages  endommagdes 


□    Pages  restored  and/or  laminated/ 
Pages  restaur^es  et/ou  pellicul^es 


"~7    Pages  discoloured,  stained  or  loxed/ 
)^    Pages  ddcolor^es,  tachet^es  ou  piqu^es 


□    Pages  detached/ 
Pages  d^tachdes 

r7]    Showthrough/ 


Transparence 

Quality  of  prir 

Quality  in^gale  de  limpression 

Includes  supplementary  materi{ 
Comprend  du  materiel  supplementaire 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Edition  disponible 


I      I    Quality  of  print  varies/ 

I      I    Includes  supplementary  material/ 

I      I    Only  edition  available/ 


D 


Pages  wholly  or  partially  obscured  by  errata 
slips,  tissues,  etc.,  have  been  ref limed  to 
ensure  the  best  possible  image/ 
Les  pages  lotalement  ou  partlellament 
obscurcies  par  un  feuillet  d'errata.  une  pelure, 
etc.,  ont  4t*  filmies  6  nouveau  de  facon  d 
obtenir  la  meilleure  image  possible. 


This  item  is  filmed  at  the  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 
Ce  document  est  film*  au  taux  de  reduction  indiquA  ci-dessous. 
10X  14X  18X  22X 


26X 


30X 


J 


12X 


1«X 


aox 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  filmed  here  has  been  reproduced  thanks 
to  the  generosity  of: 

Seminary  of  Quebec 
Library 

The  images  appearing  here  are  the  beat  quality 
possible  considering  the  condition  and  legibility 
of  the  original  copy  and  in  keeping  with  the 
filming  contract  specifications. 


Original  copies  in  printed  paper  covers  are  filmed 
beginning  with  the  front  cover  and  ending  on 
the  last  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  back  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  are  filmed  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printed 
or  illustrated  impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  —»•(  meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 

Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  at 
different  reduction  ratios.  Those  too  large  to  be 
entirely  included  in  one  exposure  are  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  and  top  to  bottom,  as  many  frames  as 
required.  The  following  diagrams  illustrate  the 
method: 


L'exemplaire  fllmi  fut  reproduit  grice  &  la 
gAnirositi  de: 

Seminal  re  de  Quebec 
Bibliotlidque 

Lee  images  suivantes  ont  4ti  reproduites  avec  le 
plus  grand  soin,  compte  tenu  de  la  ccndition  at 
de  la  nettet«  de  l'exemplaire  fiimi,  et  an 
conformity  avec  les  conditions  du  contrat  de 
filmage. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couverture  en 
papier  est  imprimte  sont  filmAs  en  commenpant 
par  le  premier  plat  at  en  terminant  soit  par  la 
derniAre  page  qui  comporte  une  ampreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  le  second 
plat,  salon  le  cas.  Tous  les  autres  exemplaires 
origiriaux  sont  filmte  en  commen^ant  par  la 
premiere  page  qui  comporte  une  smpreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminant  par 
la  derniire  page  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  des  symboles  suivants  apparaitra  sur  la 
derniAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
cas:  le  symbols  — ^  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  V  sicnifie  "FIN". 

Les  cartes,  planches,  tableeux,  etc.,  peuvent  dtre 
fllmte  A  des  taux  de  reduction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  dtre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  cliche,  il  est  film«  i  partir 
de  I'angle  supArieur  gauche,  de  gauche  it  droite, 
et  de  haut  en  bas.  en  prenant  le  nombre 
d'images  nAcessaire.  Les  diagrammes  suivants 
illustrent  la  mAthode. 


32X 


1 

2 

3 

1 

2 

3 

4 

8 

6 

> 


^ 


-**»- 


pi 


j^o 


^ 


A>^ 


^^ 


Sfi 


CfS 


XO^ 


VC\© 


V 


de 


^^ 


.v 


o' 


^t^^' 


<e 


Ae     „;3^. 


Q0-' 


fe^e' 


1  i^ 


/I 


"i.^<  f 


V 


NATlRATIt|F;^# 

COLE  THAN  ALL     

CAPTIVITY, 

From  the  time  of  his  being  taken  by  the  British,  neai'- 
Montreal,  on  the  25  th  day  of  September,  in  the 
year  1775,  to  the  time  of  his  exchangeM| 
on  the  6th  day  of  May,  1778. 

CONTAINING 

mS  VOYAGES  AND  TRAVELS, 

With  the  most  remarkable  occurrences  respecting  himse!f/and  manv 

other  continental  Prisoners,  of  ditFerent  ranks   and  characters, 

which  fell  under  his  observation  in  the  course  of  the  same  & 

particularly  the  destruction  of  the  prisoners  at  New- 

.   York.^by  General «ir  William  Howe,  in  the  yearg 

1776  and    1777;    interspersed  with    so— ^^ 

POLITZCAX.    OBSEHVATlONS.yV 

Written  by  himself,  and  now  fiuhlUhf^d fi^tfic  infovma^ 
tian  of  the  curious  in  all  JVaiow^i '-,  )  ^ 


When  God  from  chaos  gave  this  world  l^piv 
Man  then  he  form'd,  and  fbrm'd  him  to  *»p  ^rW. 

To  which  are  now  added  a  considerable  numb^r^  explanatorr 
and  occasional  notes,  together  with  an  index  of  reference  to 
the  most  remarkable  f^ccurrrnces  in    ih»   narra  ivr 


'; 


fVALFOLE,  N.  H. 

PUBLISHED   BY  THOMAS  &  THOMAS. 
^^^^^^^^  0J^_  CHARTER  I^HAlM 


Iff^ 


^^    DISTRICT  OJb^  NliW.HAi\lPbHIR£r 


4 


IC 


I  # 


f rn  25e  It  reiflibftereti,  mt  «„  this 


r  j  twenty  second  day  of  January,  in  the  thirty  first 

/ T-'  year  of  the  independence  of  the  United  States  of 

Amcrica--.Isaiah  Thomas  and  Alexander  Thomas  of 
«aid  district,  booksellers,  have  deposited  in  this  office  the 
title  ofa  book,  whereof  they  claim  a«  Proprietors,  in  the 
tollowing  words,  to  wit :  "  ji  narrative  of  Col.  Ethan  M- 
leny  Ct^tivity  ;  from  the  time  of  hit  bring  taken  by  the 
British,  7iear  Montreal,  on  the  2Bth  day  qf  Se/itemberyin  the 
tje^r  1775,  to  the  time  of  hia  exchange,  on  the  6th  day  of 
May,  1778  ;  containing  his  voyages  and  travels,  tvith  themoai 
remarkable  occurrences  respecting  himself,  and  many  other 
Continental  firisonera  of  different  ranks,  and  characters^ 
which  fell  under  his  observation,  in  the  same  period:  ftartic* 
ularly  the  destruction  of  the  prisoners,at  J^''e'iV'York,  by  Gen, 
Sir  William  Hotoe^  in  the  years  1776  and  1777  :  Intersperse 
ed  ivith  some  political  observations,     ^Written  by  Himself 

When  God  from  chaos  gave  this  world  to  be, 

Alan  then  ht  formed,  andform'd  him  to  *c/ref .— -Freneau. 
To  xvhicA  are  now  added  a  considerable  number  of  explanatom 
ry  and  occasional  notes,  together  with  an  index  of  reference  t§ 
the  most  remarkable  occurrences  in  the  narrative." 

In  conformity  to  an  act  of  Congress  of  the  United  States, 
entitled,  "  An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning  by 
securing  copies  of  Maps,  Charts  and  other  books  to  tlfe 
authors  and  proprietors  therein  mentioned"— And  also 
"  An  act  for  the  encouragement  of  learning  by  securing 
copies «,pf  Maps,  Charts  and  othei;  books  to  the  authors 
and  proprietors  of  such  copies  therein  mentioned,  and  ex- 
tencUng  the  benefit  thereof  to  the  arts  of  designing,  engrav- 
ing and  etching  historical  and  other  prints.*' 
A  true  copy  of  Record, 

R.  CUTTS  SHANNON,  Clerk, 
Attest,  R.  CUTTS  SHAJ^J^OJSr,  Clerk  of  said  District, 


■nasi 


4k. 


CONTENTS. 


Iri'rodiictina  .         __ 

Oidji-3  from  Connecticut  to  take  TicorvJeroga,  «ct. 

Col.  A. arrives  there  with  23®  Green  Mouncain  Boys,  May  9th 

i775  .  .  __  ^ 

His  address  to  ofFiccM  and  soldiert 
eiipt.  Delaplacc  surrenders  the  garrison,  May  lO  1775 
Col.  Warner  sent  to  takeCrownPoint,  which  was  done,  toze'h- 

er  with  lOG  pieces  of  cannon  -  . 

C apt.  Arnold  takei  possession  of  a  British  sloop  of  war  «|^t. 

Johns,  and  the  garrison,  a  serje?  n  and  twelve  men         * 
Speculative  thoughts  on  the  union  oi  Canada  with  the  States 
Ixeaerals  Schu/ler  and  Montgomery  ordered  into  Canada 
Mission  into  Canada  to  reconnoitre,  &c. 
Account  of  his  success 

Major  Brown's  proposition  to  take  Montreal 
i^reparations  previous  to  attack  on  the  city  .  .      * 

Capture  and  derenrion  of  certain  persons  supposed  spiw 
Theescape  ofoneexp:>ses  Col.  A's  plan  .      ^ 

Gen  Carlton's  preparations  to  ennbark  previous  to  knowini?"th» 
snnall  nunober  of  Col.  A's  party  ^'lowinj  in« 

Number  and  description  of  the  enemy's  troop's,  and  thoi.  uude. 


16 

20 

21 

92 

23 

24 

2!L 

27 

28 

29 

SO 

li. 

SI 


Retreat  <.f  Col.  A.  to  avoid  being gSrrounded 
His  narrow  e-»caj)e  of  being  shot 
Surrender  of  himself  and  party,  consisting  of  38 
Account  of  a  horrid  attack  on  Col.  A.  by  two  8ava<«.,  nn^  .  • 
B..gul.r  mode  of  escaping  their  fury  ^  ^^^  ravages,  andh.s 

tnZSr*^  between  a  British  officer  and  on,  of  the 
General  Prescotfs  treatment  of  him 

S'clSs"""^^  to  save  the  live,  of  t"hir.ecn  of"  his 
H»  conluiement  on  board  the  Gaspee  schooner  of  war  "      *     -m 

Description  of  his  irons  .  '  -         41 

Generous  conduct  of  Bradley,  a  British  officer  '  *  "  .         S 

:Z  J:r^  \^1  ^Tl^^y  *^t  of  twisting  a  ten  'r^.n.r'^ 

44 
41 


34 

is. 

35 

a. 


s? 

3« 


S9 
40 


»(a  ivt^iu 


allengesDr.  Dace  for  h"is  abuse 


■•*-     utHis 


IV 


CONTENTS. 


hi* 


Gtn.  ArnoU's  detachment  apiwars  off  Quebec   " 

Col  A   .ets  sail  forE„sland%  a  prisS;  on  board  w^e  Col 

tj'"/ Juhnson.Col.  CIoss  Etc  """*««  were  l.oi. 

nisasreable  confinement  ottboari  ship       "        , 

.  OddSo?Sl'5"rH"  ''n^'^S  circumstances         '. 
*       ^e^:f^^{X^'^^  "^England,  and  the  excite- 

wlTte?toCo"'''^',^'"^'^'^'""°^  '^'  "^^^«  of  Temple' 
^viites  to  Congress,  letter  not  sent  .  * 

-Ih^generous  Lieut.  Hamilton        ."  . 

Bnl/f''r?''f  ^''^  g^"t'emen  who  came  50  mUes  to  s'ee  him 
Roasts  of  h,3  being  a  -  full  blooded  yankee"  "  *  '°  '^  **"" 
J^onvei^ses  with  two  clergymen  on  Christianity.  &c.     "      . 

tttirre    '^  ''^!  ^"'^'"^  ^T'*'  *"^  ^'^"^  *-k«»  «ff  Jan 

Generous  offer  of  an  Irishman,"by  name  GiUegan  '. 

Liberaldonationsoflrish  gentlemen  in  Cork  .  *        ' 

>;ccuniaiy  offer  of  Mr.  Hays  to  C  ol.  Allen 

»- apt.  Symond's  malignity 

1  iuie  of  leaving  England  Jan.  8tb,  and  Cork  Feb.   l2tli 

Another  tribute  to  the  generosity  of  an  Irishman 

A^> nvesat  Cape  Fear,  in  North  Carolina,  May  3d 

^^reat  annoyance  of  the  enemy  from  American  riflemen 

rmusLimselfunder  a  more  ungenerous  enemy  than  Cant  Sv. 
inonds  ;  VIZ.  Capt.  Montague  .  ^    ^ 

Generosity  of  British  midshipmen 

Anchors  oil  New-York,  beginning  of  June,  and  remains  there 
inree  days  -  .  ••"cre 

Viiited  by  Gey  Tiyon,  Mr.  Kemp,  and  other  royalists 
Amves  at  HalifxT,  middle  of  June  .     ^ 

Cureof  the  scurvy  by  strawberries  -  .  ' 

Complains  to  Gov.  Arbuthnot,  of  Halifax,  of  UI  treatment' 
iKhuman  confinement,  and  remonstrance  against  it 
Winner  of  employ  ing  the  hours  of  captivity 
Knidnessof  aMrs.lJlacden  - 

Writes  to  Gen.  Massey  a  bc/ere  letter  .  .      '* 

Leaves  HrJiftix  about  the  I2ih  October 
Gentlemaivlike  treatment  from  Capt.  Smith 
Proposal  of  a  Capt.  B  urk  to  murder  the  Captain  and  his  me'n 
Fmuly  opposed  bv  Col.  Allen  - 

A  rrives  at  Nevv-York,  about  the  last  of  October 
Bets  between  Col.  A.  and  the  cantain  of  th»  tr,«annv^  c\,\^  *^ 
Which  he  was  removed 


4/ 
43 

ib. 
49- 
52 

53 
55 
56 

53 

59 
60 
63 


i7». 
66 

6r 

69 
70 

n 

73 
77 

rs 

79 
82 

ib. 

83 

ib. 

85 

86 

89 

90. 

to. 

91 

93 

93 

95 

96 

9r 


99 


f> 


CONTENTS. 


1  at  New -York,  on  some  of  the  last  days  of  No. 


101 

ib. 

105 

ib, 
106 

108 


Pi'Isoners  landed 

vember 
Escape  of  sergeant  Ro^er  Moore  and  otherg 
Allowed  to  be  on  his  parole  in  the  city 

Bad  quality  of  provisions  "  *  * 

Advic«oayoungPennsyIvaman,ln,isonw' 
^"th'e^l^e'/r'^^r """»'•  "  -«-  «"«  ^"J-<-  of 

*''";e"r„f„Tp\tt*'^'"«^'«'''^  "''■*»  "'=  orde„  »  "' 

Prisoners' sulFerings made  known  W  r„l     «n"  „ '.        ^'* 

Magaw,  Miles  and  Atl«  ^  *^°'-  *"'"'  ">  Colonels 

Co,Vec,„re  of  .he  numtTof'^ptSVho'^^^sLS  T^^"^'' 

York,  from  various  causes  penshed  in  New- 

Proposal  of  Gen.  Sir  Wm.  Howe,  to' Col    AlU    tl,"      u       ^^® 

cuzrrsr.?ra™r°"'»''''»'^^^^^^^^^^ 
Jtr^,::.;^etir4iter'"«°"-'''"'s'^^^ 

Spirited  behavior  of  C aot  Travi«  L J  '    '  •  ib. 

Col.  Allen,  allowed  a  K^p  rk  anr^-''^'"^'^  ^^r 

the  third  day  of  his  confinement         ^"'"  '^'''""  '°  ^*^'  <>» 
Sufferings  of  Capt.  Vandyke.  William   ii/^n      ,,  •"  ^2$ 

Capt.  Bisscll,  &c.  &c.  ^^  ^'"^'■'  Major  Wells, 

Description  of  the  British  provost        "  *  ^29 

LIlirbtweeTorVS^  "  asslt'c'o%';„Vr''  }|» 

^^  colondlwafnrr  a^n^Fr^^^^^^^^^^    '^"^  ^^^^  -™"^-nded  by''^ 

Ket'aT^fc^f  ^rntr':tr^^^^^^^^  ' 

Gen,  Stark,  and  the  battle  at  B.^^^^     '''"'^"'" 
Col.  Baum  andacol  Pfest^r  kTi"^'^^^^        Herrick,&c. 
Gen.  Stark  re-attacked bv  «  i'  i      '  °^  '^*  ^'"'*^ 
Col.  Warner  whh  130  ,«en  '''"^°'^«"»^f  of  HOO 

ance         ^"^  ^^0  men,    opporH,na>  comes  to  their  assist- 
The  enemy  meet  wiih  a  complete  defi.,*  -T  143 

Proclamation  of  Gen.  BurgX'^'*'  *.  .     ,-^. 

ThTclln:!.--^-/«ur|^n^        "       .         '        .       ,^,^ 
•Pli-  ^^i^i:."  ;:'■■;« ''^^sine  r  rencn  ;rovernmMf  f  *J 


ib. 

ib, 
141 
142 


»  I  f«'o'»n*ii»«fi'si;;r^s"™": 


i» 


w 


R 


t' 


'*•* 


nf^e  names  of  thLubZ^^^^^  "^"^  f^^^^^hed  <.  ^ei 

f^rs  are  only  iZZtT'     .    ^  '^''^  '  '^"^  «*  ^^^  ^«- 

^^ru.hrJe   itZlil  ^'^^^^d,  though  -a^e  hear  the  num^ 

«  ^r^-.,  i/^WM  ryJoi^^A/  i,,,f  f,  ,^,  them ^(togetAer. 


.•m- 


m 


■M: 


« 


IN^announeingthe  publication  of  this  lit^ 
tie,  simple,  true,   and  unvarnished  narra. 
rivE,  the  publishers  have  complied  with  the 
wishes  of  a  number  of  persons,  who  had  a 
desire  to  keep  in   remembrance  the  hero  of 
Ticonderoga,  and  the  exploits  he  performed." 
It  IS  believed  that  there  is  nota  copy  for  sale 
m  any  bookstore  in  the  United  States  ;  and' 
the  style  of  printing,  at  the  time  of  its  first 
appearance,  which  is  now  near  thirty  years 
since,  was  m  so  unimproved  a  condition,  that 
It  has  never  been  seen  but  in  the  shabby' 
dress  of  a  large  and  ragged  pamphlet.     The 
events^of  those    *^  troublous    times,"    in 
which  Gol.  Allen  took  a  conspicuous  part- 

tion.  The  high  compliments  which  he 
pays  to  the  prowess,  uniform  perseverance 
and  resolution,  manifested  by  the  "  Sreen 
Mountain  Boys"  of  his  nativekte,  wTh  no 
doubt  be  an  inducement  to  them,  and  to  his 
countrymen  generally,  to  read  andTeserve 
this  monument  of  him,  and  as  they  con  the 
'Teft  IS,  "kittle  book"  whiJh  r  £ 
.Jf5L'ATj  ^^  ™^t?te  the  coolness  and 
"""*"b'=  -x>i  ui€  aeceased  veteran. 


■M 


•  •• 


VJJi 


ADt'fiRTlSEMENT. 


hm  in  the  course  of '4  ^1""'^'  ^'^"^  ^'^^ 
e"age  the  most  severe  ,thh^"^^'  «J»"- 
country  from  whom  w/i^  ""P^'^'  *<»  » 
vv-hom  we  are  now  aTnelce  ?S'"''*5d.  with 
«  IS  our  policvtornnf?         '  ^"^  ^"^  whom 

ng ;  butVc„rrd  rhe^S""^  f-*- 

should  make  jrreat  alln,t„?      f    ^^''"§^  ™'nd 
?»eled  situatifroflT^Trs  °f  ^^  ""P^'"- 
Wgs  of  his  handful  oT  ittie   f'?^'  '^^  '"«"^'-- 
whom  he  felt  a  father's  InH     ^^"l'''"'"  for 
fon.     These  circ.u^L  ^  brother's  affec- 

a  deep  Xri^^rthrLn^-f 'r^'^^" 

Pourtrayingliisolnanf  hi   P''"'^'*  ^^h'<=h  was 
On  the  vvhole  wrS^v''?"'f  ■'''^  ^'•°"gs- 
be  re-perused  S'X  ^ie td*T'  "^^ 
by  the  aged,  and  read  w  h^muoh    j?f 'H^^' 
and  entertainment  by  the  younf     f '^*/°." 
deemed  that  the  very  words    E' .  ^  "  " 
Pect,madeuseofbvthe  ril'   "]  ^^^""y  res- 
"^ore  acceptable  toCreader""!?'  ''°"'''  '^^ 
ficial  decoration  of  su-k   'J 'hl'n'V"^  ^'1''- 
variably  adhere  to  tSoriJiLl        '''"°'*  '"' 

acSfdSetSrf  SS?  f  °  ^^ 
ry  and  occasional  notes?      ^      '  ^^P'^n^to- 


« 


>^ 


JNTRODWCTION.     ♦/<^^ 

I'  "^ 

IN'DUCED  by  a  sense  of  duty  to  my  countr^\1i^  ^' 
the  afiJiUcaiion  of  many  of  my  worthy  friends  j  aowe  W'^yWn 
are  of  the  first  characters^  I  have  concluded  to  pudi^i^lheS6m\^ 
foUoiving  narrative  of  the  extraordinary  scenes  of  my  cafi^ 
tivity,  and  the  discoveries  which  I  made  in  the  course  of  th€ 
aamey  of  the  cruel  and  relentless  dis/iosition  and   behavior 
of  the  aiemyy  toivards  the  prisoners  in  their  fioiver  ;  from 
which  the  state  fiolitician^  and  every  gradation  of  charac- 
ter among  the  fieo/ile^  to  the  worthy  tiller  of  the  soil,  may 
deduce  such  inferences  as  they^hall  think  proper  to  carry 
into  practice.     Some  men  are  appointed  into  office,  m  these 
States,  who  read  the  history  of  the  cruelties  of  this   war, 
with  the  same  careless  indifference,   as  they  do  the  page* 
of  the  Roman  history;  nay,  some  are  preferred  to  places  of 
trust  and  profit  by  i^tory  infuence.     The  instances  are 
(I  hope)  but  rare,  and  it  stands  all  freemen  in  fiand,to 
prevent  their fhrther  influence,  which,  ofcU  other  things, 
vjould  be  the  most  baneful  to  the  liberties  and  happiness  of 
this  country;  and,  so  far  as  such  influence  :akes  place,  rob 
us  of  the  victory  we  have  obtained  at  the   expense  of  so- 
nmch  blood  and  treasure.* 

hl7^^  «^«r /i'^^r/^,  which  no  lover  of  his  countrr  pern 
haps  possessed  in  a  superior  degree  to  the  writer  of  ?h^ 
Narrative,  carries  the  Colonel  in  this  instanTand  in 
S^tr'r'T-!:,^'^  "1^^  ^^^»  witness  t^h;  cot^ 
bee^  tSl  '  "^'  '°°  ?"•  ^^^'^'^^  ^^^^»  no  doubt, 
w»T.l  /  •  r"'^"^  "'  ^^  ^^^  American  cause  ;  but  thi 
Zi  riZ^^^!^^  a  .signification  that^it  woSS 


3C 


J^J^TRODirCTlOAr. 


r 

it:  • 


-   nave,  ho-mner,  taken  ,1,  vj^r  t/,e^ 

Min,  ,0  recoUec,  the  fact.  1  ^  ^''"""'  ""■"  ""'' 

"n>ii,e  .Hat  all  ^Ul  not  ie  l^' ''f        '""""'   '  "^ 

"' """'"^'"'^""ny  invanai 
now  living:,  and  moved  hu  ,i,» 

""d  the  despc  a  e  ,uih..T7'  ""'"'"^iP'ecl  fofSJi'^ 
"ur  large  seipom  arc^TnLTed  "'"  J'""'"'  »«''  «hom 

able  conectncss  in  pmino! A^^C    / '}'•''"'  '"consider- 
»eres(„,fj  occurrences  of  he  ^'    '""'  P'"'^'^'  "^"t  the  in- 

he; memory  «i.ho„t  the  u'e  ofT™  ="?'''=«.- Axed  in 
'"  """stonied  to  have  its  oner^iion!".  .  "  ■"'"''»  "'"<:h 
make  their  transit  over  it   .1  P"'  °"  P''P'-f  as  ther 

""der  the  consider"  U-nihTit?"  ',""'•  '"'P'^^ion'^ 

'=n,  again,  by  a  recurrence  tn  I  ""  """''■'  <^<""n"'nd 
I'  'a»  been  ,h„„,.hi  by  some  .""/^r"'  ""  P^'P"- 
^>i  inclevunt  hert    H„,  .T        '   ''"'"Sh  (he  remark  ma. 

-'•  «"'l  perhaps-  ^:,;'=;;:">'"7  -  «-d„al,y'aCtr 

i:tL*  fJoun  o„.  .11        •'.   ^''  "/  ^  loo  Close  affrntU«* .. 

-».*;ii,  uniijitresiijig  facts.  '"""  '"  '"""*' 


■s^.,  ■■4ik' 


^adnoi  theur^ 
^re  urgent  Jiub. 
'^ '^cek3  bef<^^ 
^isccr?i,  that  a 
written  %vhe?i  I 
^  ^ften  search. 
"  ^rote  a  ayU 
^  ^^'H'ht  fircdU 
tmoryfar  the 
'e9t  Care  and 
'  f>ut  as  they 
^^^fh   lam 
relation  of 

'y  invariable 

• 

'■patriotism 
<J  gtrierally 
foreigners, 
'ith  wliom 


INTROBJIftTloW. 


• 


xt 


f*' """  '"•''  ""'  ''--  ««'  ""  truck  of  ,He  fac,.      / 

luU„n  con^anso.  oftke  tai,  ^HicK  ty  reason  of, He  grea. 
JW.,  ofu,yano,  ae  con,aineain.o  concU.  a  Li 

rnteU  the  favour,  ,Mch  Ireceived,  ,han  M,-  «*„.„  ^,„, 
/.....     r..  cHHc  ^,Ue,Ua.e,  .0  e.cu.e  any  inacc^ 

•My  m„ed  of  a  liberal  education.  : 

J^Mifi^jycroK,  March  25,  1779. 

pe:re'S^'„^rX1CtoTarb:;Xl""''-  ?'"'^''  "p- 
rian  of  the  times  and  fact,  nf     k'  "T'J'"'"=«''  ''"'o- 

A.d,  c«,.idering  ."."?„,t"  ^Lt  ^L'""""!.- 
of  1)18 character, of  the ardoi,,. ^f  I"  r ^  '  ""'*  W'mth 
enmiUe,,„e  may   wonder    Lf  h:\*^'''"''''''P»' "»d  hi^ 

.evere  in  his  strictureson  Br ^1  .  *'  "°'  ""=«"  "«>« 
But  justice  to  anat^n  wifh  ;t,^"'»™"''a„  '«=  ha«. 

tems,  and  whose  governmlr  "  "'  "'■«=  «>"  W-^ndlf 
its  edicts  have  be™  aSZS  b^;""'''">':  ^''"P'  *•>«,; 
conducted  on  the  firmcstS  ''?.'''«""»'«  officers,  i, 

of.n,an  re^uircs^lt"t  e  A  de"  Sw  ""f  "''•"'^" 
»(Hnd>  tlic  asiwrity  of  some  rf  the  VT    ."*("""•  '"  ''" 

/    I  .viae  w  the  Teter«n'3  ebstrraUoM, 


'<^  lillii* 


.%* 


» 


'iifeit^fci^^ 


NARRATIVE 


OF 


^o/.  (Stian  .Mfe 


cn't 


CAPTIVITY,  ^.. 


■  -:»i 


E 


hood  and  acquainted  myself  with  the  ^ener. 
alh.sto,yof„,ankind.I  have  felt  a  fZ. 
passion  for  liberty.*     The  h!  .        «  ^'^certf 

X'        -ine  history  of  nations, 

«in7oK,raffi^^^^  IrrtH^nS,  to  the 

"pru  buds  mprimrose  season," 
mo«  forbWding::,!^;"^^' °f  ty'-an«y  then  assume  tt" 


14         COL.  E.    ALLEN'S    OBSERVATIOKs 

^  doomed  to  perpetual  slave^^,  \  consequence 
of  yieldrng  up  to  tyrants  their  natural-born 
hbert.es,  I  read  with  a  sort  of  philosophical 
horror;*  so  that  the  first  systematical  and 

and  give  it  a.  correspondent  ardour.      As  th^   • 
heyday  retreats,  a  more  rational  \„f>  juvenile 

V!ew  is  taken  of  the^ubLt  T^^^  ^^  ^T  '^"^^^^^^stic 
remains,  but  it  rests  on  a  .nr.  J  •  ^^"^^  [^"^^  ^f  "berty 
reason  TuL  •  lu  i.  "^^^  ^^^*^'  <*"  ^^^e  pedestal  of 
reason.  This  is  the  chaste  dame  that  Goldsmith  in  hil 
Tka VELLEn  alludes  to,  in  the  following  extraS,     '"'  ^" 

"And  thou,  fair  Freedom,  taught  alike  to  feel 

1  he  rabble's  rage,  and  tyrant's  angiy  steel  j 

Thou  transitory  flower,  alike  undone 

By  proud  Contempt,  or  Favour's  fost'ring  sun  ; 

Still  may  thy  blooms  the  changeful  islime  endu're  s^ 

I  only  would  repress  them  to  secure;  '        ,,  "^  • 

For  just  experience  icils,  in  every  soil, 

That  those  who  thmk  must  govern  those  who  teil } 
And  all  that  Freedom's  highest  aims  can  reach, 
Is  but  to  lay  proper tion'd  loads  on  each. 
Hence,  should  one  order  disproportion'd  grow,. 
Its  double  weight  must  ruin  all  below." 

*  It  is  in  the  recollection  of  most  of  us,  how  popular, 
at  Its  commencement,  was  the  revolution  in  France.    A- 
mericans,  who  were  then  just  beginning  to  enjoy  the 
blessings  of«  self-government,"  could  feel  for  those  who 
were  deprived  of  them.      They  made  the  cause   their 
own.     We  have  seen  in  what  their  professions  of  liberty 
and  equality  have  terminated.     Setting  aside  the  views 
of  a  few  ambitious  leaders,  the  love  of  liberty  was  as  sin- 
cere  among  the  great  body   of  Frenchmen,  as  it  was, 
perhaps,  among  our  own   countrymen.     But  that  intel- 
ligence   and    information,    which   are  diffused  in   this 
country,  were  not  to  be  found  in  Fmnce.     The  »niL  it !« 


TIONS, 

nsequence 
tural-born 
losophical 
atical  and 


as  as  sin- 
)  it  was, 
hat  intel- 
:d  in  this 

ftniL  it  la 
; 


DVRtSG   HIS   CAPTIVIxr.  JjS 

bloody  attempt,  at  Lexington,  to  enslave  A- 
merica,  thoroughly  electrified  my  mind,  and 
ftlly  determined  me  to  take  part  with  my 
country  .-  And,  while  I  was  wishing  for  an 
opportunity  to  signalize  myself  in  its  behalf, 
directions  were  privately  sent  to  me  from  the 
then  colony  (now  state)   of  Connecticut,  to 
raise  the  Green  Mountain  Boys,  and,  if  possi- 
ble, with  them  to  surprise  and  take  the  for- 
tress,   Ticonderoga.*       This  enterprise  I 

of  a  despot.    No  doubt  Cn^^Af.  <=''"'"^'  ""d  usurpation 
tion  of  the  throne  of  th/n     V        .  '    '^^  lateassump- 

la,  formed  byCconfllnce  r^''  '"''  "^  P<="'"»"- 
Lake  Georgeinto  Lak"cCmplU^  '"t!'- "  '^"""S  '"'■<'™ 
ruins,  and  forms  an  appeniCe  ,„'   r    '  "  T^  ^  '"■*»?  "^ 

the  French' c";^%.^"''^;^"e"T'«»''  ^»  called   b^y 

CO.  Vermont,  is  about  tw„Ti U^ToHt"'  "  '^''"^°'' 
from  It  by  the  narrow  strait  ,mX'  "' ""''  ^^I'^u-ated 

Lake  George  and  Soutl   ri'eT   «o  iTTV*"-'  T"'''"  "^ 
had  all  the  advantuo...  Ih 'I  .-!'"°  '^''''*  ^''a^plain.     It 

*eing  defended  on  three  sideriv'"^"!'"'^  ™"'''  **''■«  *'' 

I  "ee  sides  by  water  surrounded  by 


16 


•Ol.  i,  AttEN's  OBSKKTATIONJ 


ehecrfully  undertook  ;  and,  after  first  gua^. 
ingall  the  several  passes  that  led  thither,  to 

^utoffallantelHgence  between  the  garrLn 
«nd  the  country,  made  a  forced  march  from 
Benmngton,  and  arrived  at  the  lake  opposite 
to  T,conderoga,  on  the  evening  of  the  ninth 
day  of  May,    1775,  with  two  hundred  and 

tbrtyvalxant  Green  Mountain  Boys;  and  it 
was  w,th  the  utmostdifBcuIty  that  I  procured 
boats  to  cross  the  lake.     However,  -I  landed 
*".ghty  three  men  near  the  garrison,  and  sent 
the  boats  back  for  the  rear  guard,  command- 
ed  by  Col.  Seth  Warner;    but  the  day  began 
to  dawn,  and  I  found  myself  under  a  Lcefsi. 
ty  to  attack  the  fort,  before  the  rear  could 

cross  the  lake;  and,  as  it  was  viewed  hazard- 
pus,  I  harrangued  the  officers  and  soldiers  in 
the  manner  following  :  "  Friends  and  fellovr 

.nt.e  rea,-  .758  but  it  was  taken  the  y^^r  ti'vll'l!^ 


-V 


nvRisG  HIS  CAprivirr.  17 

soldiers,  You  have,  for  a  number  of  years 
past,  been  a  scourge  and  terror  to  arbitrary 
power.     Your  valor  has  been  femed  abroad 
and  acknowledged,  as  appears  by  the  advice 
and  orders  to  me,  from  the  General  Assembly 
of  Connecticut,  to  surprise  and  take  the  Rar- 
nson  now  before  us.     I  now  propose  to  ad- 
vance before  you,  and,  in  person,   conduct 
you  through  die  wicket-gate  ;    for  we  must 
this  morning  either  quit  our  pretensions  tp 
valor,  or  possess  ourselves  of  this  fortress  in 
afe^  mmutes  ;  and,  inasmuch  as  it  is  a  des- 
perate attempt,  which  none  but  the  bmvest 

ofmen  dare  undertake.  I  do  not  urge  it  oa 
any  contrary  to  his  will.     You  that  will  un- 

dertake  voluntarily,  poise  your  firelocks.* 

rangues  of  crowned  conquerors  It  L^^  '""^'"^  ''="- 
dmely  to  thv  heart,  ancl  weTn'in.!  .  .  '.'T""'  '"""e- 
Thus  it  was  that  the  herTof  Th°  '' '?''  ^"^  »•"=  i^^'"- 
little  band,  though  tar  rffelmth  ""''''  f''*'""'''^''  •>" 
terpnsesj  and  not  unSe  to  I  »"''1-'""=  ''"'  '=°- 
Hannibal'saddresstothe  CaHh  -'  ""  ~"<='"»ion  of 
to  the  Roman  capita"  «  B^.ttr  ^'""""^  ""  ""•"'^  """-rf' 
die  fortune  between  death  a  VM""'  """'^  "  "°  ""id- 
^ell  iixedin  yourminf  t"ll  'I'^'^y- .  Let  this  be  but 
ueror9.'*  '  ^  ""^  ^^*^^  again 


B  2 


say  you  are 


18 


COL.  1.  ALLEH'S  OBSERVATIONS 


_  The  men  being,  at  this  time,  drawn  up  in 
three  ranks,  each  poised  his  firelock.      I  or 

head  of  the  centre-file,  marched  them  imme- 
iZL  the  wicket  gate  aforesaid,  where 
Ifoundasentryposted.  who  instantly  snap. 

wll  '"""    I -n  immediately  to. 

wnlsh,m,andhe  retreated  through  the  cov. 
eed  way  mto  the  parade  within  the  garris^; 
g-e  a  halloo,  and  ran  uqder  a  bomb.proof 

formed  on  the  parade  in  such  manner  as  to 
fece  the  two  barracks  which  faced  each  oth- 

Ilntrie,     ^'■"'°"  ''''"^  '^'^^P'  ^^^^P'  the 
*entr  es,  we  gave  three  huzzas  which  greatly 

-.urpnsedthem.  One  of  the  sentries  m^d  a 
pass  at  one  of  my  officers  with  a  charged  bay- 
onet, and  slightly  wounded  him  :  My  fi^t 
thought  was  to  kill  him  with  my  sword  ;  but 
.n  a^  mstant,  I  altered  the  design  and  fury  o^ 

the  blow  to  a  slight  cut  on  the  side  of  the 
'f  ;  "Pon  which  he  dropped  his  gun,  and 

asked  quarter,  which  I  readily  granted  him.* 

.•Hereija  strikinir  utttanr.  „r  .1,.  v_ 

„  ^  „^  j^,^  uravery  of  gig 


UrsilfC    HIS  CJitTlVlTT. 


19 


and  demanded  of  him  the  place  where  the 
comman«ng  officer  kept ;  he  shewed  me  a 
pair  of  stairs  in  the  front  of  a  barrack,  on  the 
west  part  of  the  garrison,  which  led  up  to  a 
second  story  in  said  barrack,  to  which  I  im. 
mediately  repaired,  and  ordered  the   com- 
mander, Capt.  Delaplace,  to  come  forth  in- 
stantly,  or  I  would  sacrifice  the  whole  garri- 
son ;  at  which  the  Capt.  came  immediately 
to  the  door,  with  his  breeches  in  his  hand; 
when  I  ordered  him  to  deliver  to  me  the 
fort  instantly  ;  he  asked  me  by  what  authori- 
ty  I  demanded  it :  I  answered  him,  « In  the 
•name  of  the  great  Jehovah,  and  the  Continen- 
tal Congress."     The  authority  of  the  Con 
gress  being  very  little  kno^vn  at  that  time  * 
he  began  to  speak  again  ;  but  I  interrupted 
him,  and,  with  my  drawn  sword  over  his 

success  to  the  enterpril"^       consequence  in  ensuring 

ve.lj Vn^UtracV'h^.  ^"^T'^^  *  '""*  "^  ^'is  usual  «! 
known  in  »  R„!,r.u    '"'*'" "wd  mentioned  were  mur.h 


head,  again  demanded  an  iinmeH;,*^ 

^er  of  the  garrison  ;  with ""^te  1""'" 

plied,  and  entered  his  mel  t  J    J       °™- 

P-dedwithoutarms^TShtd    :J:t^t 
r^nson :  In  the  mean  f,^^  ^  *® 

cers  . ad  given  or^e"    ::;rr"' "*• 

thereor.sundr,ofthe;a:::iro::rs: 

-rrf;l*::';'=;r^'^«^*es^^^ 

tiller.  *"'"'  *  conductor  of  ar. 

Snkandr'r^^^^'^^"*^'-'^^ 
^our  rank  and  file  j  about  one  hundred  pieces  * 

of  cannon,   one  thirteen  inch  mortar   !nT 
number  of  swivels       TM        '     "'^'  ^^^  a 
ried  into  execS    •     T      '""^"'^  ^««  *=«'-^ 

in^of  hm  .   "*^'^'""y°f  *e  mora. 
Wgofthe  tenth  day  of  May,    1775      Th. 

sun  seemed  to  rise  th«  ^      •  *"* 

vu  10  rise  that  moraine  with  a  «ii..» 

nor  lustre  •  anri  t-      j  °  wmasupe. 

Hen.-         '.,*"'^  Ticonderoga  and  its  depen- 
clencies  smiler?  nn  i^o  "'-ijcii- 

about  th!7  conquerors,  who. tossed 

about  the  flowmg  bowl,  and  wished  success 
to  Congress,  and  the  liberty  and  freedom  of 
Amenca.      Happy    it  ^,3  for  me,  at  7l 

Pffate,  which  afterwards  unfolded  a  misera 
ble  scene  of  twoyears  and  ei^htmonr^: 


iVRtHh    HIS    CAPTIVITT. 


n 


prisonment,  were  hid  from  my  view.     But  to 
return  to  my  narration  :  Col.  Warner,  with 
the  rear  guard,  crossed  the  lake,  and  joined 
me  early  in  the  morning,  whom  I  sent  ofiF, 
without  loss  of  time,  with  about  one  hun- 
dred men,  to  take  possession  of  Crown  Point, 
•which   was   garrisoned  with  a  serjeant  and 
twelve  raen  ;  which  he  took  possession  of  the 
-same  day,  as  also  of  upwards  of  one  hundred 
pieces  of  cannon.  But  one  thing  now  remain- 
ed  to  be  done,  to  make  ourselves  complete 
masters    of  lake  Champlain  ;    this  was    to 
possess  ourselves  of  a  sloop  of  war,  whilh 
was  then  lying  at  St.  John's ;  to  effect  which 
«  was  agreed  in  a  council  of  war,  to  arm  and 
man  out  a  certain  schooner,  which  lay  at 
South  Bay,  and  that  Capt.  (now  general)  Ar- 
nold* should  command  her,  and  that  I  should 

jng  fame."     Arnold  was  once  a  brav.  Tffi  ^™'"''''*- 

ing,  indefatigable  and  ,^ady  to  mfdmake^'r'  T^':''" 

of  enterprises.     But  his  hLh  s  vie   nf  1 1"'''?'^ ''"''S 

•many   unavoidable   expense     !nH  ,1  ,^  ""^"cmg 

thc.-eby    occasioned:TCp;i„";1,i'rrl^:^!r!"^ 
oe  was  appointed  to  the  command  in  that  place,  i. 


I  fi  f. 


^        cor.  E.  XLLElf's  0BSE«V^„0WS, 

<iommand  the  batteauY    Ti,= 

-i*  the  schooner  sailin^fasSr^tt'' 
teaux,  arrived  at  St.  John's  •  and  h!  ■ 

possessed  himself  of  the  sLnh'  ^^"'T'"^^' 
arrive  with  the  hJ  T^'     '^'^  ^  *=°"W 

oners  of  a  "^  '^  **'  ^^^  ""^^e  pria. 

•^ners  of  a  sergeant  and  twelve  men    \ 

^ere  garrisoned  at  thatplace       It  T    '      ^ 

> .  -m.ark  that,  as  soon  as^L,  ll'Tl 

''ecu.^d.the    prisoners   on  ToLf  7^  ^' 

'nade  preparation  for  sailing  the  l.,'?^ 
buta  few  hours  before  wast'h  2        f 

2^well  served  to  ean,  us  t:i;t;:r; 
fhifted,  and  came  fresh  from  the  north  ■  and 

-about  one  hour's  time,  Gen.  ^^M'sall 

Wenced  in  Ju„,  , r^fl' jln^  ^^rtmmti^.      u  r^.,! 

w?s  sentences  to  be  re'primid  ""iT  "'''  '"'^"  ^* 
of  the  traitor's  conduct  r^f.  ^^'?'?^^  the  cause 
him,afterwaMs,  the  command  nf^K', "!?""«  °«^^^  ^ 
m>  he  preferred  that  Z  ,u"  i  ^  '  'f  ^'"^  "^ "■«  ar- 
tress,  to  gratify  h,  !,ate  1h  I  '  '^'^  ""POMant   for- 

to  the  enemy.^  *'^  ^'"*  "-^sentmem  in  giving  jj  ™ 


BWHIII^  HIS   CAPTIVITr.  gj. 

with  the  prize  and  schooner  for  Tkonder*" 
ga.*    When  I  met  him  with  my  party,  with- 
iina  few  miles  of  St.  John's,  he  saluted  me 
,  With  a  discharge  of  cannon,  which  I  returned 
With  a  volley  of  small  arms  :  This  being  re- 
peated  three  times,  I  went  on  boani  the  sloop 
with  mr  party,  where  several  loyal  Congress 
healths  were  drank.     We  were  now  masters 
lof  Ia.:e    Champlain,  and  the  garrison    de- 
pending thereon.     This  success  I  viewed  of 
Iconseqjienceinthe  scale  of  American  poll- 
I  tics  ;  ^or,  if  a  settlemert,  between  the  then 
colonies  and  Great-Britain,  had  soon  taken 
rplace,  It  would  have  been  easy  to  have  res- 
tored these  acquisitions;    but  viewing  the 
then  future  consequences  of  a  cruel  war,  as  it 
pias  really  proved  to  be,  and  the  command  of 
•that  lake,  garrisons,  artillery,  &c.  it  must  be 
newed  to  be  of  signal  importance  to  the  A. 
mencan  cause,  and  it  is  marvellous  to  me 
|thatr.u  ever  lost  the  command  of  it.  Nothing 

[foibles  „f  fK.  T"?-^"'^ •    As  It  was  not  one  of  th^ 

r  J 


.«•- 


«4        cot.  t.  ALttN't  OBSB^VATIOKS, 

^t  takmg  a  Burgoyne,   with  a  whole  Brit- 
ish army,  could,  in  my  opinion,  atone  /or  it ;. 
and,  notwithstanding  such  an  extraordinary 
victory,  we  must  be  obliged  to  regain  the 
command  of  that  lake  again,  be  the  cost  what 
it  will:  By  doing  this,  Canada  wiU  easily  be 
brought    into    union  and  confederacy  with 
the  United  States  of  America.      Such  an 
event  would  put  it  out  of  the  power  of  the 
western  tribes  o£  Indians  to  carry  on  a  war 
with  us,  and  be    a  solid  and  durable  bar 
against  any  farther  inhuman  barbmities  com- . 
roittcd  on  our  frontier  inhabitants,   by  cruel 
and  blood-thirsty  savages ;  for  it  is  impossi- 
ble for  them  to  carry  on  a  war,  except  they  are 
supported   by  the  trade  and  commerce  of 
some  civilized  nation  ;  which  to  them  would 
be  impracticable,  did  Canada  compose  a  part 
ofthe  American  empire.* 
Eaily  in  the  fall  of  the  year,  the  little  arftiy, 

•  Ho^yever  pracUcable  such  a  union  mii-Mbe,  its  pol- 


DURING    HIS    CAPTlVITy. 


25 


under  the  command  of  the  Generals  Schuyler*^--, 
and  Montgonierjr,  were  ordered  to  advance 
into  Canada^  I  was  at  Ticonderoga^/wh  J^^ 
this  order  arrived  ;    and   the  Genera^  with 
most  of  the  field  officers,  requested  me  to  at- 
tend  them  in  the  expedition ;  and,  though  at 
that  time  I  had  no  commission  from  Con- 
gress, yet  Jhey  engaged  me,  that  I  should  be 
considerc^as  an  officer,  the  same  as  though 
had  a  <«||«^8ion  ;  and  shbuld,  as  occasion 
might  require,  command  certain  detachments 
of  the  army     This  I  considered  as  an  honor- 
able offer,  and  did  not  hesitate  to  comply  with 

«.  and  advanced  with   the   army   to  the  isle 

AuxNo,x,*.fromwhenceI  was  ordered,  by 
the  genera  ,  to  go  i„  company  with  Major 

Brown  and  certain  interpreters,  through  the 

joodsmto  Canada,  with  letters  to  the  Canl 

dians,  and  to  let  them  know,  that   the  desigt 
of  the  army  was  only  against  the  English  gar- 


SG      cot.  E.    AltEN's    OBSEHVATIONS, 

"sons,  and  not  the  country,  their  liberties,  or 
Tehgion:  and  having,  through  much  danger 
negociated  this  business,  I  returned  to  the  isle 
Aux  Noix  the  fore  part  of  September,  when 
Oen.  Schuyler  returned  to  Albany ;  and  in 
consequence    the  c6mmand  devolved  upon 
general  Montgomerj  whom  I  assisted  in  lay. 
ing  a  line  of  circumvallation  round  the  for- 
tress,  St.  John's.*  After  which  I  was  ordered 
^  by  the  general,  \o  make  a  second  tour  into 
Canada,  upon  nearly  the  same  design  as  be- 
fore  ;  and  withal  to  observe  the  disposition, 
designs  and  movements  of  the  inhabitants  of 
the  country.     This  reconnoitre  I  undertook 
tvith  reluctance,  choosing  lather  to  assist  at 
the  siege  of  St.  John's,  which  was  then  close, 
ly  invested  ;  but  my  esteem  for  the  general's 
person,  and  opinion  of  him  as  a  politician  and 
brave  officer,  induced  me  to  proceed. 

iI,^*„t=ft'''"u'''?i'"™/°.''  *"•"■'  '"  Lower  Canada,  on 
tl  c  uest  bank  of  Sorrel  river,  at  the  north  end  of  lake 
Uianiplan,,  twenty  eight  miles  southward  of  Montreal. 
I  has  been  established  as  the  sole  port  of  entry  and 
clearance  for  all  goods  imported  from  the  interior  of  the 
l/mted  States  mto  Canada,  by  an  ordinance  published  by 
the  execuuvc  council  of  Lower  Canada,  the  7th  of  July, 
uvb.  It  was  taken  by  General  MontLromoiv  ;..  m,,., 
ITTS.    Northlat.  45/9.  west  long-rsTTs.'""''  ""  *"■"' 


DtTRIilG   pis    CAPTIVITT.  27 

I  passed  through  all  the  parishes  on  the 
river  Sorrel,*  to  a  parish  at  the  moath  of  the 
same,   which  is  called  by  the  sam;  name, 
preaching  politics  ;t  and  went  from  thence 
across  the  Sorrel  to  the  river  St.   Lawrence, 
and  up  the  river  through  the  parishes  to  Lon-' 
gueil,  and  so  far  met  with  good  success  as  an 
Itinerant.      In   this  round,  my  guard  wer* 
Canadians,  my  interpreter,  and  some  few  at- 
tendants  excepted.      On  the  morning  of  the 
24th  day  of  September,  I  set  out  with  my 
guard  of  about  eighty  men.  from  Lon^ueil 
to  go  to  La  Prairie  4  from  whence  I  deter-' 

■    ■    « 

river  St.  Lawrcncenn  Lnh7.t   /<^\T^''''  '""•  «''' 

25  .cs.,    SorrelFoV;brbVtt.'r;eichT'  u^-  "' 
tern  point  of  the  mouth  of  this  river  '         ""-"  '''"- 

his  fellow  citizens  In  , ,  I'  ^"'"^^  ^^  ""^  P""'""*  of 
bn.efidal»nclCnIe,s  F^rHi^"  ""=.°^"'l«tion  wa» 
tl>e  preacher  of  pomics  of  H,:^,'^'-'''"",'  "  "^^'  "1'>"«  of 
to  disorganize    ami /,re^' «'"'"' ''='>'•      ^"  «!'«  is 

^onn<Iationofa'„';::i.:;:,^„t™r„t;""^'  '"  '''^  ^'>' 
me  n\  tr  bi.  Laurence,  m  Canada,  eigh- 


28 


COL.    E.    ALLEN'S    OBSER VATIOWS, 


mined  to  go  to  Gen.  Montgomery's  camp; 
but  had  not  advanced  two  miles  before  I  met 
with  Major  Brown,  who  has  since  been  ad 
vanced  to  the  rank  of  a  Colonel,  who  desired 
me  to  halt,  saying  that  he  had  something  of 
.  importance  to  communicate  to  me  and   my 
confidants ;  upon  which  I  halted  the  party 
and  went  into  an  house,  and  took  a  private 
room  with  him  and  several  of  my   associates, 
where  Col.  Brown  proposed  that,  "  Provided  I 
would  return  to  LongueTl,  and  procure  some 
canoes,  so  as  to  cross  the  river  St.  Lawrence  a 
little  north  of  Montreal,  he  would  cross  it  a 
little  to  the  south  of  the  town,  with  near  two 
hundred  men,  as  he  had  boats  sufficient ;  and 
that  we  -would  make  ourselves  masters  of 
Montreal.  "-This  plan  was  readily  approved 
by  me  and  those  in  council ;    and  in  conse- 
quence  of  which  I  returned  to  Longuetl,  col. 
lected  a  few  canoes,   and  added  abour  thirty 
English  Americans  to  my  party,  and  crossed 
the  river  in  the  night  of  the  24th,  agreeable 

C,":".r ''°''"'  °^  S'-  •'°''»'»'  >"«•  ■"''•«-■  »o"th  west  of 


PUKIKG    WIS    GAPTIVITY.  2& 

to  the  before  pjQpgsed  plan.    My  whole  par- 
ty, at  this  time,  consisted  of  about  one  hun- 
dred and  ten  men,  near  eighty  of  whom  were 
Canadians.     We  were  the  most  of  the  night 
crossing  the  river,  as  we  had  so  few  canoes 
that  they  had  to  pass  and  re-pass  three  times 
to  carry  my  party  across.  Soon  after  day-break' 
I  set  a  guard  between  me  and  the  town,  with 
special    orders    to  let  no    person,  whatever 
pass  or  re-pass  them,  and  another  guard  or, 
the  other  end  of  the  road,  ,vit),  like  directions  • 
m  the  mean  time,  I  rcconnoitered  the  besi' 
ground  to  make  a  defence,  expecting  Col. 
Brown's  party  was  landed  on  the  other  side 
of  the  town,  he  having,  the  day  before,  agreed 
to  give  three  huz.as  with  his  men  early  i„  th. 

mormngwhich-signallwas  to  return,   that 
we  nu,ht  each  know  that  both  p.nrties  were 

-dec,,  but  the  sun,  by  this  time,  being  ner 
U.0  hours  high,  and  the  sign  failing,  I  L^: 

o  conclude  myself  to  be  in  a  pre  Jmire,  a," 
knwtr"""''"'"'""^''''^'^^ 

l:rj~r:-'f^--^--dsuch 

-i  -  >  >w.^,  a3  mere  couJd  not  more 
C  2 


^ 


i 


I 

I 


30    COL.  E.  alien's  obsehvations, 
than  one  third  part  of  my  troops  cross  at  one 
time,  the  other  two  thiMs  would  of  course 
fall  into  their  hands.     This  I  could  not  rec- 
oncile to  my  own  feelings  as  a  man,  mudi 
less  as  an  officer  :  I  therefore  concluded  to 
mamtain  the  ground,  if  possible,  and  all  to 
lare  alike.    In  consequence  of  this  resolution, 
1  dispatched  two  messengers,  one  to  La  Prai- 
ne,  to  Col.  Brown,  and   the   other  to   L'As- 
somption,  a  French  settlement,  to  Mr.  Walk. 
er^ho  Avas  in  our  interest,  requesting  their 
spe%  assistance,  giving  them,  at  the  same 
time,  to  understand  my  critical  situation  :  In 
the  mean  time,  sundry  persons  came  to  my 
guards,  pretending  to  be  friends,  but  were  by 

them  taken  prisoners  and  brought  to  me 

These  I  ordered  to  confinement,*  'till  their 
friendship  could  be  farther  confirmed  ;  for  I 
Tvas  jealous  they  were  spies,  as  they  proved 
to  be  afterwards:  One  of  the  principal  of 
them  making  his  escape,  exposed  the  weak- 

nbce,T!rv  ?''J^f,f  7' '' W^a^-.^as  commendable  and 
necessary  ,  and  had  it  been  carried  more  riKidlv  into  ex 
L^".'.'™. r,"^ have  prevented  the  escape  of*"  o7e  "i^ Z. 
.>'•-;=,  ^iu  tr.c  iiiiscarriage  01  Uie  colencl's  inteiuions.  '  " 


-A^^^yA^U*- 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


31 


ncss  of  my  parly,  which  was  the  final  cause 
of  my  misfortune/  for  I  have  been  since  in- 
formed that  Mr.  Valker,  agreeable  to  my 
desire,  exerted  himself,  and  had  raised  a  con- 
siderable  number  of  men  for  my  assistance, 
which  brought  him  into  difficulty  afterwards; 
but,  upon  hearing  of  my  misfortune,  he  dis- 
banded them  again.  6, 

The  town  of  Montreal  was  in  a  great  tu- 
mult.      Gen.   Carlton  and  the   royal  party, 
made  every  preparation  to  go  on  board  their 
vessels  of  force,  as  I  was  afterwards   inform- 
ed, but  the  spy,  escaping  from  my  guard  to 
the  town,  occasioned  an  alteration   in  their 
policy,  and  emboldened  Gen.  Carlson  to  send 
the  force,  which  he  had  there  colTected,  out 
against   me.     I  had  previously  chosen   my 
ground,  but  when  I  saw  the  number  of  the 
enemy,  as  they  sallied  out  of  the  town,  I  per- 
ceived it  would  be  a  day  of  trouble,  if  not  of 
rebuke  ;  but  I  had  no  chance  to  flee,  as  Mon- 
treal  was  situated  on  an  island,  and  the  river 
^t.  Lawrence  cut  off  my  communication   to 

"^" "  * ged 


my  soldiery  to  bravely  a( 


1   encoun 
defend  themselves 


COl.  E.  4H5{r'«0Ba£»yATI0NS, 


that  we  should  sQon  haye  help,  and  that  we 
should  be  able  to  keep  the  ground,  if  „« 
more.  This,  and  much  more,  I  affirmed  with 
the  greatest  seeming  assurance,  and  which  in 

'  /../'m     */!-'^''"/^2  *°  /'  f  '^'"'^  d;g^^  proba- 
cy'-ble.   /^iii^^^j^/;^^^;^^^^^^ 

^^  -     The  enemy  consisted  of  not  more  than  for- 
ty  regular  troops,  together  with  a  mixed  mul- 
Utude,  chiefly  Canadians,  with  a  number  of 
Enghsh  who  Uved  in  the  town,  and  some  In- 
dians ;  in  all,  to  the  number  of  near  five  hun- 
«red.  y 

The  reader  will  notice  that  most  of  my  par- 
ty  were  Canadians ;    indeed  it  was  a  motley 

parcel  ofsoldiery  which  composed  both  par' 
ties.     However,  the  enemy  began  the  attack 

from  wood-piles,  ditches,  buildings,  and  such 
iike  places,  at  a  considerable  distance,  and  I 
returned  the  fire  from  a  situation  more  than 
equaUy  advantageous.  The  attack  began  be- 
tween two  and  three  of  the  clock  in  the  after- 
^  noon,  just  before  which  I  ordered  a  volun- 
unteer,  by  the  name  of  Richard  Young,*  with 


«    1^1 


^-,«.„„w,„esesttbv<Uaate  traitors  should  be 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


33 


a  detachment  of  nine  men  as  a  flank  guard, 
which,  under  the  cover  of  the  bank  of  the  riv- 
er, could  not  only  annoy  the  enemy,  but  at  the 
same  time,  serve  as  a  flank  guard  to  the  left 
of  the  main  body. 

The  ike  continued  for  some  time  on  both 
sides  ;  and  I  was  confident  that  such  a  remote 
method  of  attack  could  not  carry  the  ground, 
provided  it  should  be  continued  'till  night : 
But  near  halfthe  body  of  the  enemy  began  to 
flank  round  to  my  right ;  upon  which  I  order, 
ed  a  volunteer,  by  the  name  ofJohnDugan, 
who  had  lived  many  years  in  Canada,  and  un- 
derstood  the  French  language,  to  detach  about 
fifty  of  the  Canadians,  and  post  himself  at  an 
advantageous  ditch,  which  was  on   my  right, 
to  prevent  my  being  surrounded  :  He  advanc' 
ed  with  the  detachment,  but,  instead  of  occu- 
pying the  post,  made  his  escape,  as  did  like- 
wise  Mr.  Young  upon  the  left,  with  their  de- 
tachments.     I  soon  perceived  that  the  enemy 
was  in  possession  of  the  ground,  which  Du. 

■  ^^??^^  ^o^^n  to  posterity,  in  comnnnv  ^Uh  .i...  ^c  a„. 

«i    "wa.  ■  "- — •    '"-■* "-"«-  ■•'"4  ■•li* 


34 


cot.  B.  AttEN's  OB*XHVATIONS. 


gan  should  have  occupied.     At  this  time  I 
had  but  about  forty  five  men  with  me  ;  some 
of  whom  were  wounded  ,    the  enemy  kept 
closmg  round  me,  nor  was  it  in  my  power  to 
prevent  it ,  by  which  means,  my  situation. 
Which  was  advantageous  in  the  first  part  of 
*e  attack,  ceased  to  be  so  in  the  last ;    and, 
bemg  almost  entirely  surrounded  with  such 
vast  unequal  numbers,  I  ordered  a  retreat,  but 
found  that  those  of  the  enemy,  who   were   of 
Ae  country,  and  their  Indians,  could  run   as 
fast  as  my  men,  diough   the  regulars  could 
not.    Thus  I  retreated  near  a  mile,  and  dome 
of  the  enemy,  with  the  savages,  kept  flanking 
»€,  and  others  crowded  hard  in  the  rear.     In 
fine,  I  expected,  in  a  very  sfcort  time,  to  try 
the  world  of  spirits:  for  I  was   apprehensive 
that  no  quarter  would  be   given   to  me,  and 
therefore  had  determined  to  sell   my   life  as 
dear  as  I  could.  One  of  the  enemy's  officers, 
boldly  pressing  in  the  rear,  discharged  his  fu. 
see  at  me  ;  the  ball  whistled  near  me,  as  did 
many  others  that  day.     I  returned  the  salute, 
and  missed  him,as  running  had  put  usboth  out 
of  breath ;  for  I  conclude  we  were  not  fright: 


DraiNC    HIS    CAMlvITr,  s< 

fed* :  I  then  saluted' him  with  wv  tongue  ina 
harsh  manner,  and  told  him  that,' inasmuch  as 
hisnumberswere  so  far  superior  to  mine,  I 
would  surrender,  provided  I  could  be  treated 
with  honor,  and  be  assured  of  good  quarter 
for  myself  and  the  men  who  were  with  me; 
and  he  answered  I  should ;    another  officer' 
coming  up  directly  after,  confirmed  the  trea-' 
ty ;  upon  which  I  agreed  to  surrender  with 
my  party,  which  then  consisted  of  thirty-one 
effective  men,  and  seven  Wounded.     I  order, 
ed  them  to  ground  their  arms,  which  they 

The  officer  1  capitulated  with,  then  direct-  ^ 
ed  me  and  my  party  to  advance  towards  him 
which  was  done;  I  handed  him  my  swonl,  and 
m  half  a  minute  after,  a  savage,  part  of  whose 
head  was  shaved,  being  almost  naked  and 
painted,  with  feathers  intermixed  with  the 
hair  ofthe  other  side  of  his  head,  came  run- 
mng  to  me  with  an  incredible  swiftness  ;  he 
seemed  to  advance  with  more  than  mortal 

„..*..  T''f'^°'°"'='»PPemtobewilIino- to  o-i™  ^:-    — 

^"^[^^t!""^'^  "^-^-^^   -Sc';  he" takes 
"nswt.    1  lus  u  the  mcUcation  of  a  noble  spirit. 


! 


56         COL,.  E.    ALLEN'S    OBSERVATIONS, 

speed  ;  as  he  approached  near  me,  his  hellish 
visage  was  beyond  all  description  ;    snakes' 
eyes  appear  innocent  in  comparison  of  his  • 
his  features  extorted  ;*   malice,  death,  mur- 
der, and  the  wrath  of  devils  and  damned  spir- 
Its  are  the  emblems  of  his  countenance  j  and 
in  less  than  twelve  feet  of  me,  presented  his 
firelock;    at  the   instant   of  his    present,   I 
twitched  the   officer,  to  whom  I  gave   my 
sword,  between  me  and  the  savage  ;  but  he 
flew  round  with  ^reat  fury,  trying  to  single 
me' out  to  shoot  me  without  killing  the  officer; 
but  by  this  time  I  was  near  as  nimble  as  he,' 
keeping  the  officer  in  such  a  position  that  his 
danger  was  my  defence;    but,  in  less  than 
halfa  minute,  I  was  attacked   by  just  such 
another  imp  of  hell  :  Then  I  made  the  officer 
fly  around  with  incredible  velocity,  for  a  few 
seconds  of  time,  when  I  perceived  a  Canadi- 
an,  ^lliojiadj^^  as  appeared  after- 

wards, taking  my  part  against  the  savages  ,^ 
and  in  an  instant  an  Irishman  came  to  my  as- 

*  Probably  meant  to  be  distorted  y  though,  from  the 
de^scnpaon  it  vvouici  .ppear  tJiat  his  visage  had  been  cx^ 
.v,*tw  li-um  soiue  »^  Gurgon  or  chimara  dire." 


:^> 


'ATIONS, 


£,  his  hellish 
n  ;    snakes* 
son  of  his ; 
death,  mur- 
amned  spir- 
lance  ;  and, 
esented  his 
present,   I 
f  gave  my 
:e  ;  but  he 
'  to  single 
the  officer; 
ible  as  he, 
m  that  his 
less  than 
just   such 
the  officer 
for  a  few 
a  Canadi- 
red  after- 
savages 
to  my  as- 


DURING    HIS    CAPTlVltn 


S7 


h,  from  the 
ad  been  w- 


sistance  with  afixed bayonet,  and  drove  away 
the  fiends,  swearing  by  Jasus  he  would  Icill 
them.  This  tragic  scene  composed  my 
mind.  The  escaping  from  so  awful  a  death, 
made  even  imprisonment  happy ;  the  more  so 
as  my  conquerors  on  the  iield  treated  me 
Ivith  great  civility  and  politeness. 

The  regular  officers   said  that  they  were 
very  happy  to  see  Col.  Allen:    I  answered 
them,  that  I  should  rather  chose  to  have  seen 
them  at  Gen.  Montgomery's  camp.      The 
gentlemen  replied,  that  they  gave  full  credit 
to  what  I  said,  and,  as  I  walked  to  thb  town 
■which  was,  as  I  should  guess,  more  than  tw6 
■miles,  a  British  officer  walking  at  my  right 
•hand,  and  one  of  the  French  iioblcsse  at  my 
left  ;  the  latter  of  which,  in  .  the  action,  had 
fhis  eyebrow  carried  away  by  a  glancing  shot, 
but  was  nevertheless  very  merry  and  face- 
tious^mid  no  abuse  was  offered  me  'till  I 
:  came  to  the  barrack-yard,  at  Montreal,  where 
|i  met  general  Prescott,  who  asked  me  my 
-name,  which  I  told  him  :  He  then  asked  me, 


•/C4^,-^^ 


38 


COL.  E.  ALLEN'S  OBSEH  V  ATIO.VS, 


*» 


Whether  I  was  that  Col.  Allen,  who  took  Ti 
conderoga      I  told  h™  I  .as  the  ve^  „,an  : 
Then  he  shook  his  cane  over  my  head,  call- 
mg  many  hard  names,  among  which  he  fre 
quently  used  the  ivord  rebel,  and  put  himself 
in  a  great  rage.    I  told  him  he  would  do  well 
not  to  cane  me,  for  I  was  not  accustomed  to 
•t,  and  shook  my  fist  at  him,  telling  him  that 
was  the  beetle  of  mortality  for  him,  if  he  of. 
fered  to  strike;*  upon  which  Capt.  M'Cloud 
of  the  British,  pulled  him  by  the  skirt,  and 
whispered  to  him,  as  he  afterwards  told  me 
to  th.s  import ;  that  it  was  inconsistent  with 
his  honor  to  strike  a  prisoner.      He  then  or- 
dered a  sergeant's  command  with  fixed  bay. 
onets  to  come  forward,  and  kill  thirteen  Cana- 
dians,  which  were  included  in  the  treaty  afore, 
said. 

^  It  cut  me  to  the  heart  to  see  the  Canadians 
in  so  hard  a  case,  in  consequence  of  their 
having  been  true  tome  ;  they  were  wringing 

<tarinr,>^r.f  h "  .?P"7"y  '    "<":  <=<»"'<l  he  --^pres,  till 
= ......  =j.„ii,  ty^ii  n  y,g  monjent  oJ  danger. 


10  took  Ti. 
very  man  : 
head,   call- 
ichhe  fre. 
put  himself 
uld  do  well 
stomed  to 
him  that 
if  he  of- 
.  M'Cloiid 
skirt,  and 
I  told  me, 
tent  with 
then  or- 
xed  bay. 
!en  Cana- 
ity  afore- 

anadians 
of  their 
mnging 


I  not  foit- 
press  thl? 
danger. 


•  URI.VG    HIS    CAPriVlTY.  39 

their  hands,  saying  their  prayers,  as  I  con- 
eluded,  and  expected  immediate  death  I 
therefore  stepped  between  the  executioners 
and  the  Canadians,  opened  my  clothes,  and 
told  Gen.  Prescott  to  thrust  his  bayonet  into 
my  breast,  for  I  was  the  sole  cause  of  the  Ca- 
nadians  taking  up  arms. 

The  guard,  in  the  mean  time,  rolling  their 
eye-balls  from  the  General  to  me,  as  though 
impatiently  waiting  his  dread  commands  to 
sheath  their  bayonets  in  my  heart;    I  could 
however  plainly  discern,  that  he  was  in  a  sus 
pense  and  quandary  about  the  matter  :  This 
gave  me  additional  hopes  of  succeeding  •  for 
my  design  was  not  to  die,  but  save  the  Can. 
^cbans  by  a  finesse.      The  general   stood  a 
mmute,whenhemademe  the   following  re 
ply  ;  *^  I  will  not  execute  you  now  ;  but  you" 
«hall  grace  a  halter  at  Tyburn,  God  damn 


^-S^^^^^^^^  less   of 

another,  when r";!i'l'„^.'^^^^^     but  from  one   officer  to 
*^e.  The  real  hero  «^;;;l-- 


40 


COL.  Z.  ALIIN'S  OBSERVATIONS, 


w 


I  remember  I  disdained  his  mentioning 
such  a  place  ;  I  was,  notwithstanding,   a  lit 
tie  pleased  with  the  expression,*  as  it  signifi. 
cantly  conveyed  to  mc  the  idea  of  postponing 
the  present  appearance  of  death ;  besides  his 
sentence  was  by  no  means  final,  as  to  «  grac 
mg  a  halter,  although  I  had  anxiety  about  it 
after  I  landed  in  England,  as  the  reader  will 
fin.'  m  the  course  of  this  history.     Gen.  Pres- ' 
cott  then  ordered  one  of  his  officers  to  take  me 
on  board  the  Gaspee  schooner  of  war,  and 
confine  me,  hands  and  feet,  in  irons,   which 
was  done  the  same  afternoon  I  was  taken. 
The  action  continued  an  hour  and   three 
quarters,  by  the  watch,   and  I  know  not  to 
this  day  how  many  of  my  men  were  killed, 
though  I  am  certain  there  were  but  few  !  if  I 
remember  right,  seven  were  wounded  ;  one 
of  them,  William  Stewart,    by  name,  was 

portimily  of  cxercisinj;  a  talent  of  Billingsgate,  at  which 
tl.c  mtan.st  soWic-ii.  his  army  is  his supuior! 

.1,,. ,  li  •','•,"  ^'7'!^  'I"'  '■'''"'••■''  ""  ""y  favor.ible  idea  of 
the  chmhiluy  of  the  hero's  situation.  If  a  halter  at  1 
..stance  could  shed  over  his  mind  a  ,ay  of  cor„r„rt,  dc 
l>l»r.iblc,  indeed,  must  have  been  liis   fortune  at  that 


riONs, 

mentioning 
ling,   a  lit- 
s  it  signifi- 
postponing 
resides  his 
to  *<  grac- 
y  about  it 
eader  will 
^en.  Pres- 
to  take  me 
war,  and 
IS,   which 
as  taken, 
ind   three 
•w  not  to 
re  killed, 
few !  if  I 
led  ;  one 
imc,  was 


e,  at  which 
r. 

able  idea  of 
iiultcr  at   a 
)mfort,  de- 
ne at   that 


DtJRIlJG    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


u 


wounded  by  a  savage  with  a  tomahawk,  after 
he  was  taken  prisoner  and  disarmed,  but  was 
rescued  by  some  of  the  generous  enemy  ; 
and  so  far  recovered  of  his  wounds,  that  he 
afterwards  went  with  the  other  prisoners  to 
England. 

9f  the  enemy  were  killed,  a  major  Garden, 
who  had   been  wounded  in  eleven  different 
battles,  and  an  eminent  merchant,  Patterson, 
of  Montreal,  and   some  others,  but  I  never 
knew  their  whole  loss,  as  their  accounts  were 
different.     I  am  apprehensive  that  it  is  rare, 
that  so  much  ammunition  was  expended,  and 
so  little  execution  done  by  it ;    though  such 
of  my  party  as   stood  the  ground,   behaved 
with  great  fortitude,  much  exceeding  that  of 
the  enemy,  but  were  not  the  best  of  marks- 
men,  and   I  am  apprehensive,  were  all  killed 
or  taken  ,;^the  wounded  were  all  put  into  the 
hospital  at  Montreal,  and  those  that  ivere  not 
were  put  on  board  of  diftbrcnt  vessels  in   the 
nver,  and  shackled   together  by  pairs,  vi^. 
two  menfastened  together  by  one  hand-cu.T, 


beinp*  olr^er'It-  f^-^-^A     i.^ 


Q       -•^-N,^*^         4*-l>.VU  lU 


//T^AJgrAV^.. 


one  \vxKt  of  each  of 


I 

I: 


42 


C»L.    £. 


AILEN'S    ©BSEJVATIONS, 


them,  and  treated  with  the  greatest  severity 
^    uay  as  criminals.  ^' 

I  now  come  to  the  description  of  the  irons, 
wh,ch  were  put  on  me  :  The  hand-cuff  wa 

ofaco^mon  size,  and  form,  butmylegirons, 
I  should  imagme,  would  weigh  thirty  pounds ; 

he  bar  was  eight  feet  long,  and  very  .ub. 
stantial  ;  the  shackles    whi^i, 

.  aiirtCKies,  Which  encompassed 

-     »V  ancles,  were  very  tight.   I  was  told  by  the 
officer,  who  put  them  on.  that  it  was  the  king's 
plate,   and  I  heard  other  of  their  officers  say, 
that  It  would  weigh  forty  weight.    The  irons 
were  so  close  upon  my  ancles,   that  I  could 
not  he  down  in  any  other  manner  than  on  my 
»>ack.     I  was  put  into  the  lowest  and  most 
wretched  part  of  the  vessel,  where  I  got  the 
favor  of  a  chest  to  sit  on;  the  same  answer, 
ed  for  my  bed  at  night ;  and  having  procur- 
ed  some  little  blocks  of  the  guard,  who  day 
and  night,  with  fixed  bayonets,  watched  over 
Jne.  to  lie  under  each  end  of  the  large   bar  of 
my  leg  irons,  to  preserve  my  ancles  from  gall- 
ing,  while  I  sat  on  the  chest,  or  lay  back  on 
the,same.  though  most  of  the  time,  night  and 
}l         day,  I  sat  on  it ;  but  at  length,  having^  a  de- 


ATIONS, 

est  severity, 

>f  the  irons, 
tid-culF  was 
ly  leg  irons, 
"ty  pounds; 

very  sub- 
compassed 
told  by  the 
i  the  king's 
fficers  say, 
The  irons 
t  I  could 
an  on  my 
and  most 
•  got  the 

answer- 

procur- 
who  day 
hed  over 
5  bar  of 
'om  gall- 
3ack   on 
ight  and 
g;  a  de. 


BURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


43 


sire  to  lie  down  on  my  side,  which  the  close- 
ness  of  the  irons  forbid,  I  desired  the  captain 
to  loosen  them  for  that  purpose  ;  but  was  de- 
nied the  favor  :*    The   Captain's  name  was 
Royal,  who  did  not  seem  to  be  an  ill-natured 
man  ;  but  oftentimes  said,  that  his  express 
orders  were  to  treat  me  with  such  severity, 
which  was  disagreeable  to  his  own  feelings  ; 
nor  did  he  ever  insult  me,  though  many  oth- 
ers, who  came  on  board,  did.    One  of  the  offi- 
cers,  by  the  name  of  Bradley,  was  very  gener- 
ous to  me  ;  he  would  often  send  me  victuals 
from  his  own  table  ;  nor  did  a  day  fail,  but 
that  he  sent  me  a  good  drink  of  grog.f 

The  reader  is  now  invited  back  to  the  time 
I  was  put  into  irons.  I  requested  the  privi- 
lege  to  write  to  Gen.  Prescott,   which  was 

*  The  reader  will  call  to  mind  the  merciless  manacles 
and  cruel  trappings  of  Tronic.  The  colonel's  suffering 
however  could  not  be  compared,  in  point  of  severity,  with 
those  ot  the  unhappy  prisoner  of  Magdeburg. 

t  Tiiis  little  favour,  though  scarcely    of  more  valuo 

than  a  «  cup  of  water,"   has  "met  its  reward"  in  the 

grateful   mention  which  the  hero   makes  of  it  in  this 

NARRATIVE      Al  1  the  retUHi  which  the  obliged  could 
make  fop  fhi«   ttirYiT>i»  1 r    .!        .     .  "^   .     "^**' 


i-_  tj^vjjgiiiCiiwii    la  in   convcyiiig  the 


name  ot  the  generous  donor  to  those  of  posterity   who 
may  chance  to  peruse  this  effusion  of  his  gratitude. 


* 


M 


cox.  Z.    ^,LE^,,    OBSOVATIO^a, 

ranted.     I  reminded  him  of  the  kind  »  A 
generous  manner  of  my  treatm.nr.  u         ^ 

-ersItookatTiconCga    t-^^/^- 
and  unpentlempn  n  ^        ^e  injustice 

with  frorh-rri';  "'^''  "''^'^  *  "^'^  -et 
^'•om  Him,  and  demanded  e-enfl^m      n 

"sage,  but  received  no  answSlT"-'': 
soon  after  wrote  to  Gen  rlu  *"•     ' 

the  same  success.     In  the     '''°"'  ^^'"^'^ »»« 

of  those  who  "*''^"  ^^"e  Jnany 

inosc  who  were  permitted  to  see  m. 
very  insulting.  '"^'  ^^""e 

I  was  confined  in  the  manner  I  have  related 
on   Wd   the  Gaspee  schooner/I^'S 

P    "^  o^  extravagant  ianeua^e 
which  answered  ccrf-,;.,  ""guage, 

he«...i,  "'*'"P"'Poses,  at  that  time 

better  than  to  grace  a  history 

afiToflr"'r*"""P''"'^^'"^--'ted,i„ 
leeth,    which   I  took   to    be    a    f.n 

Jil;  it  wentthrough  the  mortise    f^etr 
of  my  hand-cufi-,  and  at  the  same  time  I  sla! 

ou  r  ""Tl'""'  ^''^  ""'"  ^^  ^h^t  I  was 
outlawed  by  New- York,  and  deserved  dJ  tl 
for  several  vear«  r.,.. .  ....     ,  .       _    "  °"'" 

,  -      j  i-i  j  wasai  last  fully  ripen- 


he  kind  and 
t  of  the  pris. 
^e  injustice 
'^  I  had  met 

itleman-Iike 
3ni  him.     I 

which  met 
^hile  jnany 
-  me,  were 

ve  related, 
about  six 
obliged  to 
language, 
that  time, 

suited,  in 
w^ith  my 
•n-penny 

the  bar 

I  swag- 

particu- 

I  was 
1  death 
r  ripcn- 


BURING    HIS     CAPTIVITY. 

cd  for  the  halter,  and  in  a  fair  way  to  obtain 
it  :  When  I  challenged  him,  he  excused  him- 
self  in  consequence,  as  he  said,  of  my  being 
a  criminal ;  but  I  flung  such  a  flood  of  lan- 
guage at  him  that  it  shocked  him  and  the 
spectators,  for  my  anger  was  \ery  great.  I 
heard  one  say,  damn  him,  can  he  eatiron  ?  Af- 
ter that  a  small  padlock  was  fixed  to  the  hand, 
cuff;  instead  of  the  nail ;  and  as  they  were 
mean-spirited  in  their  treatment  to  me,  so  it 
appeared  to  me,  that  they  were  equally  tim- 
orous and  cowardly.* 

I  was  after  sent  with  the  prisoners  taken 
with  me  to  an  armed  vessel  in  the  river, 
which  lay  off  against  Quebec,  under  the  com' 
mandofCapt.  M'Cloud,ofthe  British,  who 
treated  me  in  a  very  generous  and  obliging 
manner,  and  according  to  my  rank  ;  in  about 
twenty.fourhourslbidhimfarewel  with  re- 

♦  The  reader  may,  perhaps,  excuse  the  timiditv  r»f 

cite  .s  n^^5  /  «««  might  reasonably  be  supposed  to   ex- 
ute  astonishment  and  terror  ;  and  we   may  pardon  Dr 
Dace  for  shewmi?  any  rehictance  to  engage  with    a  Dal 


-riii.  I.V  u^j  ii  ji^.  cuiiiU  *♦  eat  iron.'* 


46 


m' 


^^^«  £.  Allan's  ow^n,*. 


1,  ?    "^'  generous,  and  frienri 

Jy  manner.     I  lived  with  them  i„  the  ebb " 
-d  W  on  the  best.   „.,  irons  j;t;:; 
off.  contrary  to  the  order  he  had  receiv Ji  from 
the  commanding  officer  -.    but  Cant.  Litde 
John,,, re,  that  a  brave  man  shoufd  not  be" 
u-d  as  a  raseal,  on  board  his  ship.  " 

ihus.I  found  myselfin  possession  of  han 

Piness  once  more,  and  the  evils,  I  had  latl" 
suffered,  eave  me  an  nn.  ^ 

CaDt  r  J.      !      """^oramon  relish  for  it. 

l-apt.  Littlejohn  used  to  go  to  Quebec  .1 

--ever,day,inordertopayh?sr;ect 
to  certam  gentlemen  and  ladies;  bein.Tr! 
on  a  certain  day,  he  happened  to  meet  w^H 
somed.agree,bletreatmL.asheT:rgin::^ 

brought  on  another,  'till  the  Lieut,  challen^ 
ed  him  to  a  duel  on  th^  i  ■  .  '««"cng. 
Cant   lin.     r  ^ """'  "^  Abraham. 

Capt.  Littlejohn  was  a  gentleman,  who  en 

tertamed  a  high  sense  of  honor,  and  could  do 
no^less  than  accept  the  challenge. 

At  mne  o'clock  the  next  morning  they  wer. 


continued  ; 
el  I  was  put 
vith  his  oili- 
j  and  friend- 

the  cabin, 
^eing  taken 
reived  from 
apt.  Little- 
^Id  not  be 

^nof  hap- 
Iiad  lately 
ish  for  it. 
uebec  al- 
i  respects 
ing  there 
^eet  with 
"lagined, 
ne  word, 
^halleng. 
braham. 
vho  en- 
'Ould  do 

ey  wer« 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


4i 


to  fight.     The  Capt.  returned  in  the  evening, 
and  acquainted  his  L<ieiit  and  me  with  the 
affair  :  His  Lieut,  was  a  higli  blooded  Scotch- 
man  as  well  as  himself,  who  replied  to  his 
Capt.  that  he  should  not  want  for  a  second. 
With  this  I  interrupted  him  and  gave  the 
Capt.  to  understand  that,  since  an  opportuni- 
ty had  presented,  I  would  be  glad  to   testify 
my  gratitude  to  him,  by  acting  the  part  of  a 
faithful  second,  on  which  he  gave   me  his 
hand,  and  said  that  he  wanted  no  better  man. 
Says  he,  lama  King's  officer,   and  you  a 
prisoner  under  my  care  ;  you  must  therefore 
go  with  me  to  the  place  appointed  in  disguise, 
and  added  farther;  <*  You  must  engage  me, 
wpon  the  honor  of  a  gentleman,  that,  whether 
I  die  or  live,  or  whatever  happens,   provided 
you  live,  that  you  will  return  to  my  Lieut,  on 
board  this  ship.-     All  this  I  solemnly  engag- 
ed  him.     The  combatants  were  to  discharge 
each  a  pocket  pistol,  and  then  to  fall  on  with 
theiriron-hiltedmucklewhangers;   and  one 
^^'f^^^tso^t  was  allotted  for  me;    but  some 
«ntish  officers,  who  interposed  early  in  the 


48 


coi.  t.  alien's  obsehvations, 


;:5'    -'''''    *^  —vers.  Without 

-^  Now  having  enjoyed  eight  or  nine  days' 
happiness  from  the  polite  and  generous  treat- 
ment  of  Capt.  Littlejohn  and  his  officers,  I 
J,,  was  obhged  to  bid  them  farewel,  parting  with 

them  m  as  friendly  a  manner  as  we  had  lived 
together,  which,  to  the  best  of  my  memon^ 
was  the  eleventh  of  November :  When  a  de 
tachment  of  Gen.  Arnold's  little  army  appear- 
ed on  pouit  Levy,*   opposite   Quebec,  who 
had     performed    an     extraordinary    march 
through  a  wilderness  country,  with  design  to 
have  surprized  the  capital  of  Canada ;  I  was 
*       then   taken    on  board  a  vessel  called    the 
Adamant,  together  with  the  prisoners  takea 
with  me,  and  put  under  the  power  of  an  Eng- 
..       lish  merchant  from  London,  whose  name  was 
^  Brook  Watson :  a  man  of  malicious  and  cruel 
disposition,  and  who   was  probably  excited, 
in  the  exercise  of  his  malevolence,  by  a  junto 
of  tories,  who  sailed  with  him  to  -England  j 


TrONS, 

sy  without 

nine  days' 
irous  treat- 
officers,  I 
irting  with 
had  lived 
memor}^, 
'^hen  a  de- 
ly  appear- 
"bec,  who 
y    march 
design  to 
a;  I  was 
illed    the 
ers  taken 
Pan  Eng. 
lame  was 
and  criiei 
excited, 
y  a  junto 
^ng'land} 

rcnce,  op- 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


49 


among  Whom  were  Col.  Guy  Johnson,  Col. 
CIoss,  and  their  attendants  and  associates,  to 
the  number  of  about  thirty. 

All  the  ship's  crew,  Col.  Closs,  in  his  per- 
sonai  behavior  excepted,  behaved  towards 
the  prisoners  with  that  spirit  of  bitterness, 
which  is  the  peculiar  characteristic  of  to- 
nes, when  they  have  the  friends  of  Amer- 
ica in  their  power,  measuring  their  loy- 
alty to  the  English  King  by  the  barbarity, 
fraud,  and  deceit  which  they  exercise  towards 
thewhigs. 

'    A  small  place  in  the  vessel,   enclosed  with 
white-oak  plank,  was  assigned  for  the  prison- 
ers, and  for  me  among  the  rest.      I  should 
imagine  that  it  was  not  more  than  twenty 
feet  one  way,  and  twenty  two  the  other  •  In 
to  this  place  we  were  all,   to  the  number  of 
thuty  four,  thrust  and  hand-cuffed,  two  pris 
oners  more  being  added  to  our  number,  and 
were  provided  with  two  excrement  tubs  ;    m 
this  circumference  we  were  obliged  to  eat  and 
perform  the  offices  of  evacuation,  during  the 
■  vb>=  I"  ^ngjaiia ;  and  were  insulted  by  ev- 

E    . 


»        cot.  Z.  ALLEN'S  OBSERVATIONS, 

ery  black-guard  sailor  and  toiy  on  board,  in 
the  cruellest  manner  j  but  what  is  the  most 
surprizing  is,  that  not  one  of  us  died  in  the 
passage.     When  I  was   first  ordered  to  go 
into  the  filthy  enclosure,  through  a  small  sort 
of  door,  I  positively  refused,  and  endeavour, 
ed  to  reason  the  before  named  Brook  Watson 
out  of  a  conduct  so  derogatory  to  every  senti- 
ment of  honor  and  humanity,   but  all  to  rib 
purpose,  my  men  being  forced  in  the  den  al- 
ready  ;  and  the  rascal  who  had  the  charge   of 
theprisoners  commanded  me  to  go  immedi- 
ately  in  among  the  rest:    He  farther  added 
that  the  place  was  good  enough  for  a  rebel ; 
that  it  was  impertinent  for  a  capital  offender 
to  talk  of  honor  or  humanity ;    that  any  thing 
short  of  a  halter,  was  too  good  for  me  ;  and 
that  that  would  be  my  portion  soon  after  I 
landed  in  England ;  for  which  purpose  only 
I  was  sent  thither.     About  the  same  time  a 
^  Lieut,  among  the  tories,  insulted  me  in  a 
grievous  manner,  saying  that  I  ought  to  have 
been  executed  for  my  rebellion  against  New- 
York,  and   snit   in   mv   fun^  •     11»^ri«  ^.rT;;«T, 

though  I  was  hand-cuffed,  I  sprang  at  him 


IONS, 

board,  in 

the  most 
ed  in  the 
•ed  to  go 
small  sort 
ideavour- 
i  Watson 
ery  senti- 
all  to  rib 
s  den  al- 
:harge  of 

immedi- 
er  added 

a  rebel ; 

offender 
my  ^hrng 
He  ;  and 
I  after  I 
ose  only 
e  time  a 
me  in  a 
t  to  have 
St  New- 


BUftlNG    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


51 


with  both  hands,    and  knocked  him  partly 
down,  but  he  scrambled  along  into  the  cabins 
and  I  after  him  ;  there  he  got  under  the  pro- 
tection of  some  men  with  fixed  bayonets,  who 
were  ordered  to  make  ready  to  drive  me   in- 
to the  place  aforementioned.      I  challenged 
him  to  fight,  notwithstanding  the  impedi. 
ments  that  were  on  my  hands,  and  had  the 
exalted  pleasure  to  see  the  rascal  tremble  for 
fear  ;  his  name  I  have  forgot,  but  Watson 
ordered  his  guard  to  get  me  into  the  place 
with  the  other  prisoners,  dead  or  alive  ;    and 
I  had  almost  as  lieve  die  as  do  it,  standing 
it  out  till  they  environed  me  round  with  bay. 
onets;    and  brutish,  prejudiced,  abandoned 
wretches  they  were,  from  whom  I  could  ex- 
pect  nothing  but  death  or  wounds  :    Howev- 
er, I  told  them,  that  they  were   good  honest 
fellows  ;  that  I  could  not  blame  them  ; 
I  was  only  in  a  dispute  with  a  calicoe  ml 
chant,  who  knew  not  how  to  behave  towards 
a^  gentleman  of  the  military  establishment. 
This  was  spoke  rather  to  appease  them  for 
^  -  —  ^„^.„-_4  T«,iAvii,  ao  vvcu  ttb  lo  ireai  vvat- 
at  him    I     ^^^^  with  contempt ;  but  still  I  found   that 


^at 
tnii". 


1     -»«r 


52 


COL.  E.  allin's  observations, 


they  were  determined  to  force  me  into  the 
wretched  circumstances,  which  their  preju- 
diced,  and  depraved  minds  had  prepared  for 
me  ;  Therefore,  rather  than  die,  I  submitted 
to  their  indignities,  being  drove  with  bayon- 
ctsinto  the  filthy  dungeon,   with  the  other 
prisoners,  where  we  were  denied  fresh  water, 
except  a  small  allowance,  which  was  very  in- 
adequate to  our  wants ;  and,  in  consequence 
of  the  stench  of  the  place,  each  of  us  was  boci 
followed  with  a  diarrhoea  and  fever,  which  oc- 
casioned an    intolerable  thirst.      When  we 
^sked  for  water,  we  were,   most  commonly, 
instead  of  obtaining  it,  insulted  and  derided  ; 
imd,  to  add  to  all  the  horrors  of  the  place,  it 
was  so  dark  that  we  could  not  see  each  oth- 
er, and  were  overspread  with  body  lice.     We 
had,  notwithstanding  these  severities,  full  al- 
lowance of  salt  provisions,  and  a  gill  of  rum 
per  day  ;  the  latter  of  which  was  of  the  utmost 
service  to  us,  and,  probably,  was  the  means  of 
saving  seveial   of  our  lives.      About  forty 
days  we  existed   in   this  manner,   when  the 
land's  end  of  England  was   discovered   from 
the  mast  head  ;  soon  after  which  the  prison- 


ONS, 

into  the 
ir  preju- 
)afed  for 
ubmitted 
I  bayon- 
he  other 
5h  water, 
very  in- 
iequence 


BURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


5B 


vas 


/)C.l 


^hich  oc- 
hen  we 
nmonly, 
lerided  ; 
ilace,  it 
ch  oth- 
2.     We 

full  al- 
of  rum 

utmost 
leans  of 
It  forty 
len  the 
[I  from 
prison- 


ers were  taken  from  their  gloomy  abode,  be- 
ing  permitted  to  sec  the  light  of  the  sun,  and 
breathe  fresh  air,  whieh  to  us  was  very  re- 
freshing. The  day  following  we  landed  at 
Falmouth,* 

A  few  days  before  I  was  taken  prisoner,  I 
shifted  my  clothes,  by  which  I  happened  to 
be  taken  in  a  Canadian  dress,  viz.  a  short 
fawn  skin  jacket,  double  breasted,  an  under- 
vest  and  breeches  of  sagathy,  worsted  stock- 
ings,  a  decent  pah-  of  shoes,  two  plain  shirts, 
and  a  red  worsted  cap:  This  was  all  the 
clothing  I  had,  in  which  I  made  my  appear- 
ance in  England. 

When  the  prisoners  were  landed,  multi- 
tudes of  the  citizens  of  Falmouth,  excited  bv 

m 

♦  This  description  of  the  siifferings  of  Col.  Allen  in- 
duces  one  to  execrate  the  perpetrators.      Such  crudtiea 

rlLtr^i'  "  '''  t'^^^  /crfminals.  The  brave  shiuW 
respect  the  brave.  But,  in  all  offices,  there  maybe  found 
mdividuah  who  dishonor  their  stations.  We  are  u^-  # 
Willing  to  believe  that  such  treatment  ought  to  sUgX 
tize  ^  whole  nation  generally;  tuc  power  of  the«e^. 
cers  was  al^used  ;  and  we  see  Mm 

"  DressM  in  a  lirtle  brief  authority, 

Ommit  mb  viie  offence  a^aintt  high  Heaven.  . 

n  8  make  the  angels  weep.»»  '    .  ^ 

E  2 


54 


COL.  js.  Allen's  obsekvations, 


curiosity,  crowded  together  to  see  us,  which 
was  equally  gratifying  to  us.  I  saw  numbers 
of  people  on  the  tops  of  houses,  and  the  ris- 
ing adjacent  grounds  were  covered  with  them 
of  both  sexes :  The  throng  was  so  great,  that 
the  King's  officers  were  obliged  to  draw  their 
swords,  and  force  a  passage  to  Pendennis 
castle,  which  was  near  a  mile  from  the  town, 
where  we  were  closely  confined,  in  conse- 
quence of  orders  from  Gen.  Carlton,  who 
then  commanded  in  Canada. 

The  rascally  Brook  Watson  then  set  out 
for  London  in  great  haste,  expecting  the  re- 
ward of  his  zeal ;  but  the  ministry  received 
him,  as  I  have  been  since  informed,  rather 
coolly ;  for  the  minority  in  parliament  took 
advantage,  arguing  that  the  opposition  of  A- 
merica  to  Great  Britain,  was  not  a  rebellion  : 
If  it  is,  say  they,  why  do  you  not  execute 
Col.  Allen,  according  to  law  ?  but  the  major- 
ity  argued,  that  I  ought  to  be  executed,  and 
that  the  opposition  was  really  a  rebellion,  but 
that  policy  obliged  them  not  to  do  it,  inas- 
much as  the  Congress  had  then  most  prison- 
ers in  their  power ;  so  that  my  being  sent  to 


)NS, 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


55 


,  which 
lumbers 
:he  ris- 
th  them 
?at,  that 
LW  their 
ndennis 
i  town, 
conse- 
11,  who 

set  out 
the  re- 
eceivcd 

rather 
It  took 

of  A- 
)ellion  : 
execute 
major- 
d,  and 
on,  but 
,  inas- 
prison- 
sent  to 


England,  for  the  purpose  of  being  executed, 
and  necessity  restraining  them,  was  rather  a  foil 
on  their  laws  and  authority,  and  they  conse- 
quently disapproved  of  my  being  sent  thith- 
er: But  I  never  had  heard  the  least  hint 
of  those  debates,  in  parliament,  or  of  the 
working  of  their  policy,  till  some  time  after 
I  left  England. 

Consequently  the  reader  will  readily  con. 
ceive  I  was  anxious  about  my  preservation, 
knowing  that  I  was  in  the  power  of  a  haughty 
and  cruel  nation,  considered  as  such.     There- 
fore, the  first  proposition  which  I  determined 
in  my  own   mind  was,  that  humanity   and 
moral  suasion  would  not  be  consulted  in  the 
determining  of  my  fate  ;  and  those  that  dai- 
ly came  in  great   numbers,   out  of  curiosi- 
ty, to  sec  me,  both  gentle  and  simple,  united 
in  this,  that  I  would  be  hanged.     A  gentle- 
man from  America,  by  the  name  of  Temple,* 
and  who  was  friendly  to  me,  just  whispered 

•  Tiie  colonel,  we  think,  would  have  clone  well  to  have 
been  a  little  more  careful  in  presei-vin^^  tlie  chrisUan 
names  of  his  occasional  benefactors  ;  as  the  historian  is 
better  nleased  !'»  iv^r^rnvlitm.  «««,   -.„t  _r  — -^u         - •._ 

than  twenty  instances  of  abuse. 


56 


COL.  I.    ALLEN'S    OBSERVATIONS, 


me  in  the  ear,  and  told  me,  that  bets  were 
laid  in  London,  that  I  would  be  executed ;  he 
likewise  privately  gave  me  a  guinea,  but 
durst  say  but  little  to  me. 

However,  agreeable  to  my  first  negative 
proposition,  that  moral  virtue  would  not  in- 
fluence my  destiny,  I  had  recourse  to  strata- 
gem,  which  I  was  in  hopes  would  move  in 
the  circle  of  their  policy.  I  requested  of  the 
commander  of  the  castle  the  privilege  of  writ- 
ing to  Congress,  who,  after  consulting  with 
an  officer  that  lived  in  town,  of  a  superior 
rank,  permitted  me  to  write.  I  wrote,  in  the 
fore  part  of  the  letter,  a  short  narrative  of  my 
ill  treatment ;  but  withal  let  them  know  that, 
though  I  was  treated  as  a  criminal  in  Eng- 
land, and  continued  in  irons,  together  with 
those  taken  with  me,  yet  it  was  in  conse- 
quence of  the  orders  which  the  commander 
of  the  castle  received  from  General  Carlton  ; 
and  therefore  desired  Congress  to  desist  from 
matters  of  retaliation,  till  they  should  know 
the  result  of  the  government  in  England,  res- 
pecting their  treatment  towards  me,  and  the 
prisoners  with  me,  and  govern  themselves 


^rs, 


DURING    HIS    CAPriVITV. 


57 


ts  were 
ed;  he 
ta,  but 


egative 
not  in- 
strata- 
iove  ia 
[  of  the 
)f  writ- 
ig  with 
iperior 
,  in  the 

of  my 
w  that, 
1  Eng- 
;r  with 
conse- 
nander 
irhon ; 
\t  from 

know 
d,  res- 
nd  the 
Lselves 


accordingly,  with  a  particular  request,  that  if 
retaliation  should  be  found  necessary,  it  might 
be  exercised  not  according  to  the  smailness 
of  my  character  m  America,  but  in  proportion 
to  the  importance   of  the   cause  for  which  I 
suffered — This  is,  according  to  my  present 
recollection,  the  substance  of  the  letter,  in- 
scribed,  To  the  Himtrious  Continental  Congress. 
This  letter  was  wrote  with  a  view  that  it 
should  be  sent  to  the  ministry  at  London, 
rather  than  to  Congress,  with  a  design  to  in- 
timidate the  haughty  English  government, 
and  screen  my  neck  from  the  halter. 

The  next  day  the  officer,  from  whom  I  ob- 
tained licence  to  write,  caifie  to  see  me,  and 
frowned  on  me  on  account  of  the  impudence 
of  the  letter,  as  he  phrased  it,  and  farther  add- 
ed,  «  Do  you  think  that  we  are  fools  in  Eng- 
land, and  would  send  your  letter  to  Congress, 
with  instructions  to  retaliate  on  our  own  peo- 
pie  ?  I  have  sent  your  letter  to  Lord  North/' 
This  gave  me  inward  satisfaction,  though  I 
carefully  concealed  it  with  a  pretended  resent- 

TTient      frkf     T      IVa.,«,1      T   1 1 ^_    -tr i 

him,  and  that  the  letter  had  gone  to  the  iden* 


#ft    COL.  E.  Allen's  OBSERVATIONS/ 

^ical  person  I  designed  it  for.  Nor  do  I 
know,  to  this  day,  but  that  it  had  the  desired 
effect^  though  I  have  not  heard  any  thing  of 
the  letter  since. 

My  personal  treatment  by  Lieut.  Hamilton, 
who  commanded  the  castle,  was  very  gener- 
ous. He  sent  me  every  day  a  fine  breakfast 
and  dimier  from  his  own  table,  and  a  bottle  of 
good  win<^.  Another  aged  gentleman,  whose 
name  I  cannot  recollect,  sent  me  a  good  sup« 
per  :  But  there  was  no  distinction  in  public 
support  between  me  and  the  privates;  we 
all  lodged  on  a  sort  of  Dutch  bunks,  in  on^ 
common  apartment,  and  were  allowed  straw. 
The  privates  were  well  supplied  with  fresh 
provision,  and  with  me,  took  effectual  meas- 
ures  to  rid  ourselves  of  lice. 

I  could  not  but  feel,  inwardly,  extremely 
anxious  for  my  fate.  This  I  however  con- 
cealed  from  the  prisoners,  as  well  as  from  the 
enemy,  who  were  perpetually  shaking  the 
halter  at  me.  I  nevertheless  treated  them 
with  scorn  and  contempt  :  and,  having  sent 
my  letter  to  the  ministry,  could  conceive  of 
nothing  more  in  my  power  but  to  keep  up 


^•t%nt 


r  do  I 

desired 
hing  of 

milton, 
gener- 

eakfast 

ottle  of 
whose 

kI  sup- 
public 

ss ;  wo 
in  on6 

i  straw. 

ii  fresh 

I  meas* 

remely 
er  con- 
om  the 
ng  the 
1  them 
rjg  sent 

eive  of 
;eepiip 


jb tril llf G   lli S    C A P T IV 1 1 Y . 


Bi 


my  spirits,  behave  in  a  daring,  so!dier4ik«S 
^manner,  that  I  might  exhibit  a  good  sample 
of  American  fortitude.*     Such  a  conduct,  I 
judged,  would  hav€  a  more  probable  teiidehi 
cy  to  my  preservation  than  concession  and 
timidity.     This,  therefore,   was  my  deport- 
ment  ;    and  I  had  lastly  determined,  in  my 
own  mind,  that  if  a  cruel  death  must  inevita- 
bly be  my  portion,  I  would  face  it  undaunti 
ed  ;  and,  though  I  greatly  rejoice  that  I  have 
returned  to  my  country  and  friends,   and  to 
Bee  the  jfower  and  pride  of  Great  Britain 
humbled  /  yet  I  am  confident  I  could  then 
have  died  without  the  least  appearance  of 
dismay. 

I  now  t^learly  recollect  that  my  mind  was 
so  resolved,  that  I  would  not  have  trembled 
or  shewn  the  least  fear,  as  I  was  sensible  it 
could  not  alter  my  fate,  nor  do  more  than  re- 

_  *  The  British  must  doubtless  have  had  a  high  idea  of 
the  personal  prowess  of  Col.  Allen  ;  and  liowever  supe- 
rior their  regular  discipline  might  have  appeared  in 
their  own  eyes,  yet  they  could  not  but  respect  the  cour- 
^F^i^^'^'^'^y-  '^°  ^^>s  intrepid  spirit,  and  to  the  es- 
^^ii  ii.  liiust  nave  excited,  the  colonel  probably  owes 
ftis  complimcntary  meals,  and  his  daily  bottle  of  wine. 


m^         COL.  £.  ALLEN^S  OBSERVATIONS, 

proaeh  my  memory,  make  my  la^t  act  despi- 
cable to  my  enemies,  and  eclipse  the  other 
actions  of  my  life.  For  I  reasoned  thus,  tliat 
nothing  was  more  common  than  for  men  to 
die  with  their  friends  around  them,  weeping 
and  lamenting  over  them,  but  not  able  to 
help  them,  which  was  in  reality  not  different 
in  the  consequence  of  it  from  such  a  death  as 
I  was  apprehensive  of ;  and,  as  death  was  the 
natural  consequence  of  animal  life  to  which 
the  laws  ^  of  nature  subject  mankind,  to  be 
timorous  and  uneasy  as  to  the  event  or  man- 
ner of  it,  was  inconsistent  with  the  character 
of  a  philosopher  or  soldier.  The  cause  I  was 
engaged  in,  I  eVer  viewed  worthy  hazarding 
my  life  for,  nor  was  I,  in  the  most  critical  mo- 
ments of  trouble,  sorry  that  I  engaged  in  it; 
and,  as  to  the  world  of  spirits,  though  I  knew 
nothing  of  the  mode  or  manner  of  it,  I  ex- 
pected nevertheless,  when  I  should  i  rrive  at 
such  a  world,  that  I  should  be  as  well  treated 
as  other  gentlemen  of  my  merit. 

Among  the  great  numbers  of  people,  who 
came  to  the  castle  to  see  the  prisoners,  some 
gentlemen  told  me,  that  they  had  come  fifty 


NS, 

:  despi- 
e  other 
us,  tliat 
men  to 
i^eeping 
able  to 
ifferent 
eath  as 
was  the 
\  which 
,  to  be 
►r  man- 
^aracter 
e  I  was 
sarding 
;al  mo- 
i  in  it ; 
I  knew 
,  I  ex- 
'rive  at 
treated 

e,  who 
;,  some 
le  fifty 


BURNING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


61 


miles  on  purpose  to  see  me,  and  desired  to 
ask  me  a  number  of  questions,  and  to  make 
free  with  me  in  conversation.     I  gave  for  an- 
swer,  that  I  chose  freedom  in  every  sense  of 
the  word :  Then  one  of  them  asked  me  what 
my  occupation  in  life  had  been  ?    I  answered 
him,  that  in  my  younger  days  I  had  studied 
divinity,  but  was  a  conjurer  by  profession. 
He  replied,  that  I  conjured  wrong  at  the  time 
that  I  was  taken  ;  and  I  was  obliged  to  own, 
that  I  mistook  a  figure  at  that  time,  but  that' 
I  had  conjured  them  out  of  Ticonderoga. 
This  was  a  place  of  great  notoriety  in  Eng- 
land,  so  that  the  joke  seemed  to  go  in  my  fa- 
vour. 

It  was  a  common  thing  for  me  to  be  taken 
out  of  close  confinement,  into  a  spacious  green 
in  the  castle,  or  rather  parade,  where  num- 
bers  of  gentlemen  and  ladies  were  ready  to 
see  and  hear  me.  I  often  entertained  such 
audiences  with  harrangues  on  the  impractica- 
bility of  Great  Britain's  conquering  the  then 
colonies  of  America.     At  one  of  these  times 

I  aslrf»rl  n   r«.o »-.+!. 

he  ordered  h 


oovvi  of  punch, 


servant  to  bring  it,  which  he 


6S> 


COL.  E.  Allen's  observations, 


did,  and  offered  it  to  me,  but  I  refused  to 
take  it  from  the  hand  of  his  servant ;  he  then 
gave  it  to  me  with  his  own  hand,  refusing  to 
drink  with  me  in  consequence  of  my  being  a 
state  criminal :  However,  I  took  the  punch 
and  drank  it  all  down  at  one  draught,  and 
handed  the  gentleman  the  bowl  :  This  made 
the  spectators  as  well  as  myself  merry.* 

I  expatiated  on  American  freedom  :  This 
gained  the  resentment  of  a  young  beardless 
gentleman  of  the  company,!  who  gave  him- 
self Very  great  airs,  and  replied,  that  he 
**  knew  the  Americans  very  well,  and  was 
certain  that  they  could  not  bear  the  smell  of 
powder.  I  replied,  that  I  accepted  it  is  a 
challenge,  and  was  ready  to  convince  him  on 
the  spot,  that  an  American  could  bear  the 
smell  of  powder  ;  at  which  he  answered  that 
he  shouldnotput  himself  on  a  par  with  me. 

*  Those,  who  are  acquainted  with  the  exhilarating  ef- 
fect of  this  delicious  beverage,  can  easily  give  credit  to 
this  assertion  of  our  hero. 

t  Probably  some  London  cockney.  There  are  peo- 
ple of  this  description  in  all  countries,  ready  to  mock  at 
misfortune,  and  insult  the  wretched. 


Ithei 

er  of 

answ( 

sured 

and,  ] 

left  n: 

laugh 

came 

haved 

same 

moral 

seeme 

quaint 

underis 

argum 

nadian 

surpris 

£1  geni 

and  w€ 

but  sue 

me,  it  i 

Englan 

The 

few  Hni 

board  c 


)NS, 

fused  to 
he  then 
ising  to 
being  a 
e  punch 
ht,  and 
is  made 

:  This 
sardless 
ve  him- 
that  he 
nd  was 
imell  of 
it  is  a 
him  on 
ear  the 
ed  that 
th  me. 


Lrating  ef- 
creclit  to 


are  peo- 
mock  at 


DURING    HIS  CAPTIVITY. 


i3 


I  then  demanded  of  him  to  treat  the  charact- 
er of  the   Americans  with  due  respect.    He 
answered  that  I  was  an  Irishman  ;  but  I  as- 
sured him,  that  I  was  a  full  blooded  Yankee, 
and,  in  fine,  bantered  him  so  much,  that  he 
left  me  in  possession  of  the  ground,  and  the 
laugh  went  against  him.      Two  clergymen 
came  to  see  me,  and,   inasmuch  as  they  be- 
haved  with    civility,     I  returned  them  the 
same  :  We   discoursed  on  several  parts  of 
moral  philosophy  and  Christianity;  and  they 
seemed  to  be  surprised,  that  I  should  be  ac 
quainted  with  such  topics,  or  that  I  should 
understand  a  syllogism,   or  regular  mode  of 
argumentation.     I  am  apprehensive  my  Ca- 
nadian dress  contributed  not  a  little  to  the 
surprise,  and  excitement  of  curiosity  :  to  see 
d  gentleman  in  England,   regularly  dressed 
and  well  behaved,  would  be  no  sight  at  all  ; 
but  such  a  rebel,  as  they  were  pleased  to  call 
me,  it  is  probable,  was  never  before  seen  in 
England. 

The  prisoners  were  landed  at  Falmouth  a 

few  Hnvo  K*if/-i«>o,   r^i.„!_^ 

„„^.^_,^.,^  ^,,-.^^jj^^g^  ^j^^   ordered  on 
board  of  the  Solebay  frigate,  Capt.  Symonds, 


64       coL.*E.  alien's  observations, 


the  eighth  day  of  January,  1776,  when  our 
hand  irons  were  taken  off.  This  remove 
was  in  consequence,  as  I  have  been  since  in- 
formed, of  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus,  which 
had  been  procured  by  some  gentlemen  ha 
England,  in  order  to  obtain  me  my  liberty. 

The  Solebay,  with  sundry  other  men  of 
war,  and  about  forty  transports,  rendezvous- 
ed at  the  cove  of  Cork  in  Ireland,  to  take  in 
provision  and  water. 

When  we  were  first  brought  on  board, 
Capt.  Symonds  ordered  all  the  prisoners, 
and  most  of  the  hands  on  board,  to  go  on  the 
deck,  and  caused  to  be  read,  m  their  hearing, 
a  certain  code  of  laws,  or  rules  for  the  regu- 
lation and  ordering  of  their  behavior  ;  and 
then,  in  a  sovereign  manner,  ordered  the  pris- 
oners, me  in  particular,  off  the  deck,  and 
never  to  come  on  it  again  ;  for,  said  he,  tliis 
is  a  place  for  gentlemen  to  walk.  §0  I 
went  off,  an  officer  following  me,  wht;;^  told 
me,  that  he  would  shew  me  the  place  idlotted 
for  me,"  and   took  me  down    to   the  cable 

Prior  to  this  I  had  taken  cold,  by  which  I 


ten  our 
'emove 
nee  in- 
which 
nen  in 
erty. 
nen  of 
;zvous- 
:ake  ia 

board, 
isoners, 
)  on  the 
learing, 
;  regu- 
ir  ;  and 
lie  pris- 
;k,  and 
he,  thjs 
3o  I 
\\(/i  told 
sdlotted 
e  cable 

which  I 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVIxf. 


65 


was  in  an  ill  state  of  health,  and  did  not  say 
much  to  the  officer  ;  but  stayed  there  that 
night,  consulted  my  policy,  and  found  I  was 
in  an  evil  case  ;  that  a  Capt.  of  a  man  of  war 
was  more  arbitrary  than  a  King,  as  he  could 
view  his  territory  with  a  look  of  his  eye,  and 
a  movement  of  his  finger  commanded  obedi'- 
ence.  I  felt  myself  more  desponding  than  I 
had  done  at  any  time  before  ;  for  I  concluded 
it  to  be  a  governmental  scheme,  to  do  that 
clandestinely  which  policy  forbid  to  be  done 
under  sanction  of  public  justice  and  law.* 

However,  two  days  after  I  shaved  and 
cleansed  myself  as  well  as  I  could,  and  went 
on  deck.  The  Capt.  spoke  to  me  in  a  great 
rage,  and  said,  "  Did  I  not  order  you  not  to 

comeondeck?"  I  answered  him,  that  at  the 
same  time  he  said,  ''  That  it  was  the  place 
for  gentlemen  to  walk  ;  that  I  was  Col.  AU 
len,  but  had  not  been  properly  introduced  to 
him.''  He  replied,  "  G-d  damn  you,  Sir,  be 
careful  not  to  walk  the  same  side  of  the  deck 

The  colonel,  smnrtino"  iinrloti  ei,^U    A- A. ^ 

be  excused,  m  some  measure,  for  wishing  to  confound 
the  abuse  of  officers  with  that  of  the  goyernment. 

F2 


66 


COL. 


ALLEN  S    OBSERVATIONS. 


that  I  do."  This  gave  me  encouragement, 
and  ever  after  that  I  walked  in  the  manner  he 
had  directed,  except  when  he,  at  certain  times 
afterwards,  ordered  me  off  in  a  passion,  and 
I  then  w^ould  directly  afterwards  go  on  again, 
telling  him  to  command  his  slaves  ;  that  I 
was  a  gentleman,  and  had  a  right  to  walk  the 
deck  ;  yet  when  he  expressly  ordered  me  off, 
I  obeyed,  not  out  of  obedience  to  him,  but  to 
set  an  example  to  his  ship's  crev:,  v/ho  ought 
to  obey  him.  ' 

To  walk  to  the  windward  side  of  the  deck 
is,  according  to  custom,  the  prerogative  of  the 
Capt.  of  the  man  of  war,  though  he,  often- 
times, nay  commonly,  walks  with  his  lieuten- 
ants, when  no  strangers  are  by  :  When  a 
Capt.  from  some  other  man  of  war,  comes  on 
board,  the  Capts.  walk  to  the  windward  side, 
and  the  other  gentlemen  to  the  leeward. 

It  was  but  a  few  nights  I  lodged  in  the  ca- 
ble  tire,  before  I  gained  an  acquaintance 
with  the  master  of  arms  ;  his  name  was  Gil- 
legan,  an  Irishipan,  who  was  a  generous  and 
well  disposed  man,  and,  in  u  friendly  maniier 
made  me  an  offer  of  living  with  him  in  a  little 


NS, 

;ement, 
nner  he 
n  times 
)n,  and 
1  again, 
that  I 
^alk  the 
me  ofF, 
but  to 
►  ought 

le  deck 
e  of  the 

often- 
ieuten- 
/hen  a 
>mes  on 
d  side, 
d. 

the  ca- 
Lintance 
as  Gil- 
US  and 
rnarnicr 

a  little 


DURING    HIS    CAFTIV^Y, 


67 


\ 


birth,  which  was  allotted  him  between  decks, 
and  enclosed  with  canvas ;  his  preferment  on 
board  was  about  equal  to  that  of  a  sergeant  in 
a  regiment.  I  was  comparatively  happy  in 
the  acceptance  of  his  clemency,  and  lived 
with  him  in  friendship,  till  the  frigate  an- 
chored in  the  harbor  of  cape  Fear,  North-Car- 
olina, in  America.* 

Nothing  of  material  consequence  happened 
till  the  fleet  rendezvoused  at  the  cove  of  Co.k, 
except  a  violent   storm  which   brought  old 
hardy  sailors  to  their  prayers.      It  was   soon 
rumoured  in  Cork  that  I  was  on   board   the 
Solebay,  with  a  number  of  prisoners  from  A- 
merica;  upon  which  Messrs.  Clark  and  Hays, 
merchants  in  company,  and  a  number  of  oth- 
er benevolently  disposed  gentlemen,   contrib. 
uted  largely  to  the  relief  and   support  of  the 
prisoners,  who  were  thirty-four  in  number, 
and  in  very  needy  circumstances.     A  suit  of 
clothes  from  head  to  foot,  including  an  -ver 
coat,  or  surtout,  and  two  shirts,  were  bestow- 
ed on  each  of  them.     My  suit  I  received  in 
supcifunj  broadcloths,  sullicient  for  two  jack- 
ets, and  two  pair  of  breeches  overplus  of  a 


68     COL.  i,  Allen's   observations, 

suit  throughout,   eight  fine  Holland  shirts" 
and  stocks  ready  made,   with  a  number  of 
pairs  of  silk  and  worsted   hose,  two  pair  of 
shoes,  two  beaver  hats,  one   of  which  was 
sent  me  richly  laced  with  gold,  by  Mr.  James 
Bonwell.     The  Irish  gentlemen  furthermore 
made  a  large  gratuity   of  wines  of  the  best 
sort,  old  spirits,  Geneva,  loaf  and  brown  su- 
gar, coffee,   tea  and  chocolate,  with  a  large 
round  of  pickled  beef,  and  a  numbeif  of  fat 
turkies,  with  many  other  articles,  for  my   sea 
stores,  too  tedious  to  mention  here.     To  the 
privates  they  bestowed   on  each  man    two 
pounds  of  tea,  and  six  pounds  of  brown  su- 
gar.    These  articles  were  received  on  board, 
at  a  time  when  the  Capt.  and  first  Lieut,  were 
gone  on  shore,  by  permission  of  the  second 
Lieut,  a  handsome  young   gentleman,  who 
was  then  under  twenty   years  of  age ;    his 
name    was  Douglass,    the  son  of  Admiral 
Douglass,  as  I  was  informed. 

As  this   munificence   was   so   unexpected 
and  plentiful,  I  may  add  needful,  it  impressed 

wards  my  benefactors  ;    for  I  was  not  only 


thr 


ffs, 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


69 


shirts 
ber  of 
•air  of 
li  was 
James 
:rmore 
i  best 
n  su- 

large 
of  fat 
y  sea 
ro  the 
I  two 
n  su- 
3oard, 
.  were 
econd 
,  who 
;  his 
Imiral 


supplied  with  the  necessaries  and  convenien- 
ces of  life,  but  with  the  grandeurs  and  super- 
fluities of  it.  Mr.  Hays,  one  of  the  dona- 
tors  before  mentioned,  came  on  board,  and 
behaved  in  the  most  obliging  manner,  telling 
me,  that  he  hoped  my  troubles  were  past  ; 
for  that  the  gentlemen  of  Cork  determined  to 
make  my  sea-stores  equal  to  those  of  the  Capt. 
of  the  Solebay's ;  he  made  an  offer  of  live  stock 
and  wherewith  to  support  them ;  but  I  knew  this 
would  be  denied  :  And  to  crown  all,  did  send 
to  me  by  another  person  fifty  guineas,  but  I 
could  not  reconcile  receiving  the  whole  to 
my  own  feelings,  as  it  might  have  the  appear- 
ance of  avarice  ;  and  therefore  received  but 
seven  guineas  only  ;  and  am  confident,  not 
only  from  the  exercise  of  the  present  well- 
timed  generosity,  but  from  a  large  acquaint- 
ance with  gentlemen  of  this  nation,  that  as  a 
people  they  excel  in  liberality  and  bravery.^Jf 


tected 
essed 

i.^   Lvi- 

only 


*  This  tribute  to  the  p;cncrosity  of  the  Irish  charac- 
ter is  well  merited.  Except  among  the  lowest  and  most 
ip:norant,  hospitality  and  generosity  are  proverbial ;  and 

_ ,_,,    ,,vM-_r:iv    io    vast    xjrxsv     liiC    liuiionai 

character,  by  applying  to  them  the  commission  of  most 
of  che  buUs  which  arc  current  among  us,   yet  the  well 


70 


COL.  E.  Allen's  observations 


Two  days  after  the  receipt  of  the  aforesaid 
donations,  Capt.  Symonds  came  on  board,  full 
of  envy  towards  the  prisoners,  and  swore   by 
all  that  is  good,  that  the  damned   American 
rebels  should  not  be  feasted  at  this  rate,   by 
the  damned  rebels  of  Ireland  ;    he   therefore 
took  away  all   my  liquors  before-mentioned, 
except  some  of  the  wine  which  was  secreted, 
and  a  two  gallon  jug  of  old  spirits  which  was 
reserved  for  me,  per  favour  of  Lieut.  Doug. 
lass.     The  taking  of  my  liquors  was  abomin- 
able  in  his  sight  ;  he  therefore  spoke   in  my 
behalf,  till  the  Capt.  was  angry  with  him  ; 
and,    in  consequence,    proceeded  and  took 
away  all  the  tea  and  sugar,  which   had  been 
given  to  the  prisoners,  and  confiscated   it  to 
the  use  of  the  ship's  crew.    Our  clothing  was 
not  taken  away,  but  the  privates  were  forced 
to  do  duty  on  board.     Soon  after  this  there 
came  a  boat  to  the  side  of  the  ship,  and  Capt. 
Symonds  asked  a  gentleman  who  was   in   it, 
in  my  hearing,  what  his  business  was?    who 

informed  of  all  countries  do  them  iustice  by  allowine- 
inut  incy  do  not  full  siiort  of  other  nations,  in  literary; 
philosophical  and  other  attainments. 


DtTRING    HIS    CAPTIVlxr.  71 

answered  that  he  was  sent  to  deliver  some 
sea-stores  to  Col.  Allen,  which,  if  I  remem- 
ber right,  he  said  were  sent  from  Dublin ;  but 
the  Capt.  damned  him  very  heartily,  ordered 
him  away  from  the  ship,  and  would  not  suffer 
him  to  deliver  the  stores.     I  was  farthermore 
informed,  that  the  gentlemen  in    Cork   re- 
quested of  Capt.  Symonds,  that   I  might  be 
allowed  to  come  imo  the  city,  and  that  they 
would  be  responsible  I  should  return  to  the 
frigate  at  a  given  time,  which  was  denied 
them. 

We  sailed  from   England  the  8th  day  of 
January,  and  from  the  cove  of  Cork  the  12th 
day  of  February.     Just  before   we  sailed,  Ac 
prisoners  with  me  were  divided,  and  put  on 
board  three  different  ships  of  war.    This  gave 
me  some  uneasiness,  for  they  were  to  a  man 
zealous  in  the  cause  of  liberty,   and  behaved 
with  a  becoming  fortitude  in    the    various 
scenes  of  their  captivity  ;    but  those,  who 
were  distributed  on  board  other  ships  of  war 
were  much  better  used  than  those  who  tarri-' 
cu  wuii  me,  as  appeared  afte.  wards.     When 
the  fleet,  consisting  of  about  forty  five  sail,  in- 


72     COL.  E.  Allen's  observations, 

eluding  five  men  of  war,  sailed  from  the  cove 
with  a  fresh  breeze,  the  appearance  was  beau- 
tiful, abstracted  from  the  unjust  and  bloody- 
designs  they  had  in  view.  We  had  not  sail- 
ed  many  days,  before  a  mighty  storm  arose, 
which  lasted  near  twenty-four. hours  without 
intermission :  The  wind  blew  vvdth  relentless 
fury,  and  no  man  could  remain  on  deck,  ex- 
cept he  was  lashed  fast,  for  the  waves  rolled 
over  the  deck  by  turns,  with  a  forcible  rapid- 
ity and  every  soul  o  i  board  was  anxious  for 
thepreservationof  the  ship,  alias  their  lives. 
In  this  storm  the  Thunder-bomb  man  of  war 
sprang  a  leak,  and  was  afterwards  floated  to 
some  part  of  the  coast  of  England,  and  the 
crew  saved.  We  were  then  said  to  be  in  the 
bay  of  Biscay.  After  the  storm  abated,  I 
could  plainly  discern  that  the  prisoners  were 
better  used  for  some  considerable  time.^ 


*  The  eaiisc  of  the  alteration  is  left  to  conjecture. 
Probably,  however,  it  was  from  compunction  for  the 
unwarrantable  severity  inflicted  on  the  pribuners,  and 
their  alarm,  durint;  the  storm,  mit^ht  have  made  tin  ;h 
apprehcniiive  that  this  war  of  the  elements  was  occasivMi- 

„J  K..  4.U..    Jit 1 _  i»  J 1         r-»    ?i-_  T ? A     ^1     .   „ 

CVl  uy    lilC   vii£iiJiC»,i3Vli"C  OI  li'-;    L/Cit«'.  lIIliilinCiiL     til  -i-yCr 

^voldd  have  a  tcndcncv  to  rciax  the  Iron  hand  of  r^iv^ncs- 


)NS, 

he  cove 
as  beau* 
bloody 
not  sail- 
1  arose, 
without 
^lentless 
sck,  ex- 
s  rolled 
e  rapid- 
ious  for 
ir  lives. 
1  of  war 
)ated  to 
and  the 
>e  ill  the 
bated,  I 
::rs  were 
ne.^ 


:onjecturc. 
Ill  for  llic 
jncrs,  aiul 
natle  tin  ns 
soccasKr.- 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITV,  73 

Nothing  of  consequence  happened  after 
this,  till  we  had  sailed  to  the  island  of  Ma- 
deira,  except  a  certain  favour  which  I  receiv- 
ed of  Gapt.  Symonds,  in  consequence  of  an 
application  I  made  to  him,   for  the  privilege 
of  his  tailor  to  make  me  a  suit  of  clothes  of 
the  cloth  bestowed  on  mc  in  Ireland,  which 
he  generously  granted.     I  could  then  walk 
the  deck  with  a  seeming  better  grace.   When 
we  had  reached  Madeira,  and  anchored,  sun- 
dry gentlemen  with  the  Capt.   went  on  shore, 
who  I  conclude  gave  the  rumor  that  I  w  as  in 
the  frigate  ;  upon  which  I  soon  after  found 
Irish  generosity  was  again  excited ;    for  a 
gentleman  of  the  nation  sent  his    clerk   on 
board,  to  know  of  me  if  I  would  accept  a  sea- 
store  from  him,  particularly  of  wine.      This 
matter  I  made  known  to  the  generous  Lieut. 
Douglass,  who  readily  granted  me  the  favor,' 
provided   the  articles  could  be  brought  on 
board,  during  the  time  of  his  command ;  ad- 
ding  that  it  would  be  a  pleasure  to  him  to  serve 

SilOD- ivlioM  4K^K^ A    ?^       ..  . 

trcatieV  nr.  nZr^^'^'i'  f^  *^^"^*i-^^^sc   steeled  against  eft- 
laaties,  or  a  view  of  the  excess  of  human  suatdng. 

G 


74      COL.  E.  Allen's  observations^ 

me,  notwithstanding  the  opposition  h^  met 
with  before  :  So  I  directed  the  gen^le^man's. 
clerk  to  inform  him,  that  I  was  greatly  in  ne^d 
of  so  signal  a  charity,  and  desired  th^  young 
gentleman  to  make  the  utmost  dispatch,  which 
he'did ;  but,  in  the  mean  time,  Capt.  Sy- 
monds  and  his  officers  came  on  board,  and 
immediately  made  ready  for  sailing ;  the 
wind  at  the  same  time  being  fair,  set  sail 
when  the  young  gentleman  was  in  f^ir  sight; 
with  the  aforesaid  store.* 

The  reader  will  doubtless  recollect  the  sev-? 
en  guineas  I  received  at  the  cove  of  Cork; 
These  enabled  me  to  purchase  of  the  purser 
what  I  wanted,  had  not  the  Capt.  strictly  for^ 
bidden  it,  though  I  made  sundry  applications! 
to  him  for  that  purpose  ;  but  his  answer  to 
me,  when  I  was  sick,  was,  that  it  was  no  mat- 
ter how  soon  I  was  dead,  and  that  he  was 
no  ways  anxious  to  preserve  the  lives  of  reb- 
els, but  wished  them  all  dejid  ;    and  indeed 


*  This  will  remind  tiie  classical  reader  of  the  story  of 
Tantalus.    The  deprivation,  however,  must  have  been 

that  wiae  is  moru  paljvtablg  than  water. 


u,  ♦• 


li^  met 
eman's 
in  need 
young 
,  wliiqh 
pt.  Sy. 
•||,  and 
;;  the 
ict  sail 
p  sight 

Gork; 
purser 
tly  for^ 
catioru^ 
iwer  to 
10  naat- 
le  was 
of  reb- 
indeed 


e  story  of 
lave  been 


75 


n^^ 


fe&klNG    ills    CAPTIVlTr. 

that  was  the  language  of  most   of  the  shi 
crew.      I  expostulated  not  only  with    tU^ 
Capt.  but  with  other  gentlemen  on  board,  oii- 
the  unreasonableness  of  such  usage  ;    infer- 
ring  that,  inasmuch  as  the  government   in 
England  did  not  proceed  against  me  as  a 
capital  offender,  they  should .  not ;    for  that 
they  \^^re  by  no  means  empowered   by  any 
authority,  either  civil  or  military,  to  do   so; 
for  the  English  government  had  acquitted  me 
by  sending  me  back  a  'prisoner  of  war  to  A- 
ferica,  and  that  they  should  treat  me  as  such. 
I  farther  drew  an  inference  of  impolicy  on 
them,  provided  they  should,  by  hard  usage, 
destroy  my  life  ;  inasmuch  as  I  might,  if  liv' 
ing,  redeem^one  of  their  officers  ;    but  the 
Capt.  replied,  that  he  needed  no  directions  of 
mine  how  to  treat  a  rebel  ;    that  the  British 
would  conquer  the  American  rebels,  hang  the 
Congress,  and  such  as  promoted  the   rebel- 
lion, me  in  particular,  and  retake    their  o^vn 
prisoners  ;  so  that  my  life  was  of  no  conse. 
quence  in  the  scale  of  their  policy.      I  gave 
him  for  answer,  that  if  they  stayed  till  they 


conquered  America,  before  they  hanged 


me. 


76      €0L.  E.  Allen's  observations, 

I  should  die  of  old  age ^  and  desired  that  till 
such  an  event  took  place,  he  would  at  least 
allow  me  to  purchase  of  the  purser,  for  my 
own  money,  such  articles  as  I  greatly  need- 
ed ;  but  he  would  not  permit  it,  and  when  I 
reminded  him  of  the  generous  and  civil  us- 
age  that  their  prisoners  in  captivity  in  Amer^ 
ica  met  with,  he  said  that  it  was  not  ov/ing  to 
their  goodness,  but  to  their  timidity  ;  for, 
said  he,  they  expect  to  be  conquered,  and 
therefore  dare  not  misuse  our  prisoners  ;  and 
in  fact,  this  was  the  language  of  the  British 
officers,  till  Gen.  Burgoyne  was  taken  \*  hap- 


*  It  was  the  plan  of  the  British  generals,  to  push  a 
body  of  troops  from  New-York,  to  join  general  Bur- 
goyne at  Albany,  and  by  establishing  a  line  of  British 
posts  on  the  Hudson,  to  intercept  the  intercourse  be- 
tween the  New-England  and  southern  states.  While 
general  Burgoyne  was  attempting  to  advance  towards 
Albany,  General  Clinton  with  a  force  of  three  thousand 
men  took  possession  of  fort  Montgomery,  after  severe 
loss.  General  Vaughan,  with  a  body  of  troops,  on  board 
of  armed  ships  sailed,  up  the  Hudson,  as  far  as  Livings- 
ton's manor,  where  he  landed  a  party,  burnt  a  large 
house  belonging  to  one  of  the  family  ;  then  sent  a  party 
to  the  opposite  shore  and  laid  in  ashes  the  town  of  Kings- 
ton. But  general  Burgoyne,  despairing  of  the  junction, 
between  his  army  and  the  division  from  New-York,  sur- 

sented  to  capitulate,  and  on  the  1 7th  of  October,  sur- 


NS, 

lat  till 
it  least 
for  my 

•  need- 
vhen  I 
vil  us- 
Amer* 
ir/ing  to 
Y  ;  for, 
d,  and 
s  ;  and 
Britrsh 

*  hap- 


push  a 

ral   Biir- 

l  British 

ursc  be- 

While 

towards 
thousand 
r  severe 
on  board 
Livings- 

a  large 
t  a  party 
f  Kings- 
junction 
)rk,  sur- 

ler,  sur- 


DURINC    HIS  CAPTIVITV. 


T7 


py  event !  and  not  only  of  the  officers,  bat 
of  the  whole  British  army.  I  appeal  to  all 
my  brother  prisoners,  who  have  been  with 
the  British  in  the  southern  department,  for  a 
confirmation  of  what  I  have  advanced  on  this 
subject.  The  surgeon  of  the  Solebay 
whosenameisNortl,,  wasa  very  humane 
obligmg  man,  and  took  the  best  care  of  the 
prisoners  who  were  sick. 

The  third  day  of  May  we  cast  anchor  in 
the  harbor  of  Cape  Fear,*  'in   North-Caroli 
na,  as  did  Sir  Peter  Parker's  ship,  of  fifty 
guns,  a  little  back  of  the  bar;    for  there  was 
no  depth  of  water  for  him  to  come  into  the 
harbour  :  These  two  men  of  war,  and  four- 

»  P        ^         .  C  Websler's  Elements, 

v^ape  Look  Out,  and  remirV^K?^  c  "  ,"** »  ^'  W  .  of 
caned  the  Frying  pt^romt  w'  ^',11?  .^'^^^ 
stands  at  the  mouth  of  the  river       Tf*  i  %^r  ^''''^^ 

from  the  point  of  the  Cane    fl?  .*     •,    ''T'  ^^-  ^-  W- 
this  cape Ljohnso^^lpP^'  ^^^n^iles   distant.      Near 

district  of  Wilmint^ton'^NnrfifTl'-?'^^^^  *''*''"^>''  ^"d 
longitude  rs,  25.    ^  '^^'  ^""^3^  ^^>   32-^,vest 

tr  2 


78     COL.  E,  Allen's   observations, 

teen  sail  of  transports  and  others,  came  after, 
so  that  most  of  the  fleet  rendezvoused  at 
cape  Fear,  for  three  weeks.  The  soldiers  on 
board  the  transports  were  sickly,  in  conse- 
quence of  so  long  a  passage  ;  add  to  this, 
the  small  pox  carried  off  many  of  them : 
They  landed  on  the  main,  and  formed  a  camp ; 
but  the  riflemen  annoyed  them,  and  caused 
them  to  move  to  an  island  in  the  harbour  ; 
but  such  cursing  of  riflemen  I  never  heard. 
A  detachment  of  regulars  was  sent  up 
Brunswick  river  ;  as  they  landed,  they  were 
fired  on  by  those  marksmen,  and  they  came 
back  next  day  damning  the  rebels  for  their 
unmanly  way  of  fighting,  and  swearing  that 
tliey  would  give  no  quarter,  for  they  took 
sight  at  them,  and  were  behind  timber,  skulk- 
ing about.  One  of  the  detachments  said 
they  lost  one  man ;  but  a  negro  man  who 
was  with  them,  and  heard  what  was  said  soon 
after  told  me  that  he  helped  to  bury  thirty- 
one  of  them  :  This  did  me  some  good  to  find 
my  countrymen  giving  them  battle ;  for  I 
never  heard  such  swas-srerine"  as  among:  Gen. 
Clinton's  little  army,  who  commanded  at  that 


US. 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


79 


after, 
sed  at 
iers  on 
conse- 
3  this, 
them : 
camp; 
caused 
rbour ; 
heard, 
snt  up 
y  were 

came 
>r  their 
ng  that 
y  took 
skulk- 
ts  said 
m  who 
id  soon 
thirty- 
to  find 

for  I 

b:  Gen. 

at  that 


time ;  and  I  am  apt  to  think  there  were  four 
thousand  men,  though  not  two  thinis  of  them 
fit  for  duty.  I  heard  'numbers  of  them  say, 
that  the  trees  in  America  should  hang  well 
with  fruk  that  campaign  for  they  would  give 
no  quarter  :  This  was  in  the  mouths  of  most 
who  I  heard  speak  on  the  subject,  officer  as 
well  as  soldier.  I  wished  at  that  time  my 
eountr}  men  knew,  as  well  as  I  did,  what  a 
murdering  and  cruel  enemy  they  had  to  deal 
with  ;  but  experience  has  since  taught  thjs 
country,  what  they  are  to  expect  at  the  hands 
of  Britons  when  in  their  power. 

The  prisoners,  who  had  been  sent  on  board 
different  men  of  war  at  the  cove  of  Cork 
were  collected  together,  and  the  whole  of 
them  put  on  board  the  Mercury  frigate,  Capt, 
James  Montague,  except  one  of  the  Canadi- 
ans,  who  died  on  the  passage  from  Ireland, 
and  Peter  Noble,  who  made  his  escape  from 
the  Sphynx  man  of  war  in  this  harbour,  and, 
by  extraordinary  swimming,  got  safe  home  to 
New-EngUnd,  and  gave  intelligence  of  the 

cury  set  sail  from  this  port  for  Halifax,  about 


80 


COL.  E.  Allen's  observations, 


the  20th  of  May,  and  Sir  Peter  Parker  was 
about  to  sail  with  the  land  forces,  under  the 
command  of  Gen.  Clinton,  for  the  reduction 
of  Charleston,  the  capital  of  South- Carolina, 
and  when  I  heard  of  his  defeat  in  Halifax,  it 
gave  me  inexpressible  satisfaction. 

I  now  found  myself  under  a  worse  Capt. 
than  Symonds  ;    for  Montague  was  loaded 
with  prejudices  against  every  body,  and  ev- 
ery  thing  that  was  not  stamped  with  royalty ; 
and,  being  by  nature  underwitted,  his  wrath 
was  heavier  than  the  others,   or  at  least  his 
mind  was  in  no  instance  liable  to  be  diverted 
by  good  sense,  humour  or  bravery,  of  which 
Symonds  was  by  turns  susceptible.     A  Capt. 
Fmncis  Proctor  was  added  to  our  number  of 
prisoners  when  we  were  first  put  on  board 
this  ship  :    This  gentleman  had  formerly  be- 
longed to  the  English  service.     The  Capt. 
and,  in  fine,   all  the  gentlemen  of  the  ship, 
were  very  much  incensed  against  him,  and 
put  him  in  irons  without  the  least  provoca- 
tion, imd  he  was  continued  in  this  miserable 
situation  about  three  months.     In  this  pas- 
sage  the  prisoners  were  infected  with  the 


IONS, 

irker  was 
nder  the 
reduction 
Carolina, 
alifax,  it 

:*se  Capt. 
s  loaded 
and  ev- 
royalty ; 
is  wrath 
least  his 
diverted 
f  which 
A  Capt. 
mber  of 
n  board 
'rly  be- 
le  Capt. 
le  ship, 
im,  and 
rovoca- 
serable 
is  pas- 
th  the 


DUR1N^<;    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


81 


scurvy,  some  more  and  some  less,  but  most 
of  them  severely.  The  shijp's  crew  was  to  a 
great  degree  troubled  with  it,  and  I  conclud- 
ed that  it  was  catching  :  Several  of  the  crew 
died  with  it  on  their  passage.  I  was  weak 
and  feeble  in  consequence  of  so  long  and 
cruel  a  captivity,  yet  had  but  little  of  the 
scurvy. 

The  purser  was  again  expressly  forbid  by 
the  Capt.  to  let  me  have  any  thing  out  of  his 
store ;  upon  which  I  went  on  deck,  and,  in 
the  handsomest  manner  requested  the  favour 
of  purchasing  a  few  necessaries  of  the  purser, 
which  was  denied  me ;    he  farther  told  me, 
that  I  should  be  hanged  as  soon  as  I  arrived 
at  Halifax.     I  tried  to  reason  the  matter  with 
him,  but  found  him  proof  against  reason  ;  I 
also  held  up  his  honor  to  view,  and  his  be- 
havior  to  me  and  the  prisoners  in  general,  as 
being  derogatory  to  it,  but  found  his  honor 
Impenetrable.     I  then   endeavored  to  touch 
his   humanity,   but  found  he  had  none  ;  for 
his  prepossession  of  bigotry  to  his  own  party, 


iiaci  confirmed  him  in  an  opinion,  that  no  hu 
manity  was  due  to  unroyalists,  but  seemed 


B^ 


COL.    E.    AILEn's    OSSERVATiOKTS, 


to  think  that  heaven  and  earth  were   md^ 
merely  to  gratify  the  King  and  his  creatures; 
he  uttered    considerable    unintelligible  and 
grovelling  ideas,  a  little  tinctured  with  Mon- 
archy,  but  stood  well  to  his  text  of  hanging 
tee.     He  afterv/ards  forbade  his  surgeon  to 
administer  any  help  to  the  sick  prisoners.* 
I  was  every  night  shut  down  in  the  cable  tire, 
with  the  rest  of  the  prisoners,  and  we  all  liv- 
ed miserably  while  under  his  power  :    But  I 
deceived  some  generosity  from  several  of  the 
midshipmen,   who  in  degree  alleviated  my 
misery  ;  one  of  their  names  was  Putrass,  the 
names  of  the  others  I  do  not  recollect  ;  but 
they  were  obliged  to  be  private  in  the  bestow- 
ment  of  their  favour,  which  was  sometimes 
e')od  wine  bitters,  and  at  others,  a  generous 
drink  of  grog. 

Some  time  in  the  first  week  of  June,   we 
came  to  anchor  at  the  Hook  off  New   i'ork, 


*  This,  if  Col.  Allen  was  t^ot  imdcr  a  mistake,  must 

liuve  been  the  acme  of  inlnimunity.     For  the  honour  of 

human  nature,  we  trust  it  is.     lie  must  be  a  monster, 
indeed,  wnnmnlrl  wuii«>  #^/\t-ntv<nttric>  »i*  .^  !.....<.. i  _    ^-^ 


•  NS, 

e  madb 
atures; 
)le  and 
1  Mon- 
langin^ 
geon  to 
Dners.* 
^le  tire, 
all  liv- 
But  I 
I  of  the 
ed  my 
iss,  the 
t ;  but 
estow- 
etimes 
nerous 

le,  we 
i'ork, 


)nour  of 
monster, 


nVRtM-Q  HIS   CAPTIVITY. 


8S 


iUilUiC. 


^Iiere  we  remained  l)ut  three  days  ;  in  which 
time  Gpv.  Tryon,  Mr.  Kemp,  the  old  attor- 
ney  Gen.  of  Nt.v\r-^ork,  and  several  other 
perfidious  and  over-grown  tpries  and  landr 
jobbers,  came  on  board.     Tryon  viewed  m^. 
\^ith  a  stern  countenance,  as  I  was  walking 
on  the  leeward  side   of  the  deck,  with  the; 
midshipmen;    and  he   and  his  companions 
were  walking  with  the  Capt.  and  Lieut,  on 
the  windward  side  of  the  same,  but  never, 
spoke  to  me,  though  it  is  altogether  probable 
that  he  thought  of  the  old  quarrel  between^ 
liim,  the  old  government  of  New- York  andi 
the  Green  Mountain  Boys  :  Then  they  went 
with  the  Capt.  into  the  cabin,   and  the  samc^ 
afternoon  returned  on  board  a  vessel  whichi 
lay  near  the  Hook,  where  at  th^t  time  they 
took  sanctuary  from  the  resentment  of  their 
injured  country.     What  passed  between  the 
officers  of  the  ship  and  these  visitors  I  know 
iiot ;    but  tins  I   know,   that  my  treatment 
%Q?n  the,  principal  officers  was  more  severe 
afterwards. 

We  arrivprl   uf    u«i:r„..    ^,^    r. « 

-.^^  «v   xA»*iiiUA   iiiji  liu    irom  the 

middle  of  June,  where  the  ship's  crew,  which 


H 


COL.  K.  Allen's  observations, 


was  infested  with  the  scurvy,  were  taken  on 
shore,  and  shallow  trenches  dug,   into  which 
they  were  put,  and  partly  covered  with  earth. 
Indeed  every  proper  measure  was  taken  for 
their  relief  :     The  prisoners  were  not  per- 
mitted  any  sort  of  medicine,  but  were  put  on 
board  a  sloop  which  lay  in  the  harbour,  near 
the  town  of  Halifax,  surrounded  with  several 
men  of  war  and  their  tenders,  and  a  guard 
constantly  set  over  them,  night  and  day.     The 
sloop  we  had  wholly   to   ourselves,   except 
the  guard,  who  occupied  the  forecastle ;  here 
we   were  cruelly    pinched  with   hunger;    it 
seemed  to  me  that  we  had  not  more  than  one 
third  of  the  common  allowance  :    We  were 
all  seized  with  violent  hunger  and  faintness  ; 
we  divided  our  scanty  allowance  as  exact  as 
possible.      I  shared  the  same  fate  with  the 
rest,  and,  though  they  offered  me  more  than 
an  even  share,  I  refused  to  accept  it,  as  it  was 
a  time  of  substantial  distress,   which  in  my 
opinion  I  ought  to  partake  equally  with  the 
rest,  and  set  an  example  of  virtue  and  forti- 
tude to  our  little  rnm m on w/^en  1th. 


NS, 

iken  on 
►  which 
\  earth, 
ken  for 
3t  per- 
put  on 
r,  near 
several 
I  guard 
The 
except 
;  here 
^er ;    it 
an  one 
e  were 
itness ; 
[act  as 
ith  the 
e  than 
it  was 
in  my 
th  the 
;  forti- 


DURING    HIS    captivity/ 


85 


I  sent  letter  after  letter  to  Capt.  Montague, 
who  still  had  the  care  of  us,  and  also  to  his 
Lieutenant,   whose  name   I  cannot  call   to 
mind,   but  could  obtain  no   answer,    much 
less  a  redress  of  grievances  ;  and,  to  add  to 
the  calamity,   near  a  dozen  of  the  prisoners 
were  dangerously  ill  of  the  scurvy.     I  wrote 
private  letters  to  the  doctors,  to  procure,  if 
possible,  some  remedy  for  the   sick,  but  in 
vain.      The  chief  physician  came  by  in   a 
boat,  so  close  that  the  oars  touched  the  sloop 
we  were  in,  and  I  uttered  my  complaint  in  the 
genteelest  manner  to  him,  but  he  never  so 
much  as  turned  his  head,  or  made  me  any 
answer,  though  I  continued  speaking  till  he 
got  out  of  hearing.     Our  cause  then  bee  m. 
very  deplorable.     Still  I  kept  writing  to  the 
Captain,  till  he  ordered  the  guards,  as  they 
told  me,  not  to  bring  any  more  letters  from 
me  to  him.     In  the  mean  time  an  event  hap- 
pened worth  relating  :     One  of  the  men,  al- 
most dead  of  the  scurvy,  ky  by  the  side  of 
the  sloop,  and,  a  canoe  o£  Indians  coming  by 
-   iv..-.«aovw  iwu  tjiiarts  of  strawberries,  and 

H 


86     COL.  E.  Allen's  observations, 

ate  them  at  once,  and  it  almost  cured  him. 
The  money  he  gave  for  them,  was  all  the 
money  he  had  in  the  world.  After  that  we 
tried  every  way  to  procure  more  of  that  fruit, 
reasoning  from  analogy  that  thev  might  have 
the  same  effect  on  others  infested  with  the 
same  disease,  but  could  obtain  nbne.* 

Meanwhile  the  Doctor's  mate  of  the  Mer- 
cury came  privately  on  board  the  prison  sloop, 
and  presented  me  with  a  large  vial  of  smart 
drops,  which  proved  to  be  good  for  the  scur- 
vy, though  vegetables  and  some  other  ingre- 
dients were  requisite  for  a  cure  ;  but  the 
drops  gave  at  least  a  check  to  the  disease  : 
This  was  a  well-timed  exertion  of  humanity, 
but  the  doctor's  name  Yzs  slipped  my  mind, 
and,  in  my  opinion,  it  was  the  means  of  sav- 
ing the  lives  of  several  men. 

The  guard,  which  was  set  over  us,  was  by 
this  time  touched  with  the  feelings  of  com- 
passion ;  and  I  finally  trusted  one  of  them 
with  a  letter  of  complaint  to  Governor  Ar- 


■^    The  acid  of  any  ullicr  Ve^ctnbic,  puSavanir.g  itlii    "" 

equal  degree,  and  taken  in  the  same  quantity,  would 
pgrhaps  huve  hftd  the  same  curative  effect. 


rs, 

I  him. 
all  the 
at  we 
t  fruit, 
it  have 
th  the 

t  Mer- 

sloop, 

smart 

scur- 

ingre- 

iit  the 

sease  : 

nanity, 

mind, 

)f  sav- 

^vas  by 
r  com- 
f  them 
^r  Ar- 

j  It  tii     «»• 

fy  would 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


87 


buthnot,  of  Halifax,  which  he  found  means  to 
communicate,  and  which  had  the  desired  ef- 
feet  ;  for  the   Governor  sent  an  officer  and 
surgeon  on  board  the  prison  sloop,  to  know 
the  truth   of  the   complaint.      The  officer's 
name  was  Russel,  who  held  the  rank  of  Lieut, 
and  treated  me  in  a  friendly  and  polite  man- 
ner, and  was  really  angry   at  the   cruel   and 
unmanly  usage  the  prisoners  met  with  ;    and,  - 
with  the  surgeon,  made  a  true  report  of  mat- 
ters to  Gov.  Arbu^mot,  who,   either  by  his 
order  or  influence,  took  us  next  day  from  the 
prison  sloop  to  Halifax  gaol,  where  I  first  be- 
came  acquainted  with  the  now  Hon.  James 
Lovel,  Esq.  one  of  the  members  of  Congress 
for  the   State  of  Massachusetts-Bay.      The 
si  !'  were  taken  to  the  hospital,  and  the  Cana- 
dians, who  were  effective,  were  employed  in 
the  King's  works ;  and  when  their  country. 
men  were   recovered  from   the  scurvy   and 
joined  them,  they  all  deserted  the  King's  em- 
ploy, and  were   not  heard   of  at  Halifax,  as 
long  as  the  remainder  of  the  prisoners  contin- 

October.     We  were  on  board  the  prison- 


88     COL.  E.  Allen's  observations, 

sloop  about  six  weeks,  and  were  landed  at 
Halifax  near  the  middle  of  August.  Several 
of  our  English  American  prisoners,  who 
were  cured  of  the  scurvy  at  the  hospital, 
made  their  escape  from  thence,  and  after  a 
long  time  reached  their  old  habitations. 

I  had  now  but  thirteen  with  me,  of  those 
who  were  taken  in  Canada,  and  remained  in 
gaol  with  me  in  Halifax,  who,  in  addition  to 
those  that  were  imprisoned  before,  made  our 
number  about  thirty  four,  who  were  all  lock- 
ed up  in  one  common  large  room,  without  re- 
gard to  rank,  education,  or  any  other  accom- 
plishment, where  we  continued  from  the  set- 
ting to  the  rising  sun  ;  and,  as  sundry  of 
them  were  infected  with  the  gaol  and  other 
distempers,  the  furniture  of  this  spacious 
room  consisted  principally  of  excrement  tubs. 
We  petitioned  for  a  removal  of  the  sick  into 
the  hospitals,  but  were  denied.  We  remon- 
strated against  the  ungenerous  usage  of  be- 
ing confined  with  the  privates,  as  being  con- 
trary to  the  laws  and  customs  of  nations,  and 

nnrtirnlnrlv     nngrnfeful     in    ihem.    in    rnnee- 

quence  of  the  gentleman-like  usage  which 


ONS, 

mded  at 
Several 
rs,  who 
hospital, 
[  after  a 

IS. 

)f  those 
dned  in 
lition  to 
ade  our 
all  lock- 
hout  re- 
•  accom- 
the  set- 
indry  of 
d  other 
jpacious 
;nt  tubs, 
lick  into 
;  remon- 

of  be- 
ing con- 
>ns,  and 

conse- 
2  which 


JDUHING    HIS  CAPTIVITY. 


89 


the  British  imprisoned  officers  met  with  in 
America ;  and  thus  we  wearied  ourselves,  pe. 
titioning  and  remonstrating,  but  to  no  pur- 
pose  at  all ;  for  Gen.  Massey,  who  command- 
ed at  Halifax,  was  as  inflexible  as  the  Devil 
himself,  a  fine  preparative  this  for  Mr.  Lovel, 
member  of  the  Continental  Congress. 

Lieut.  Russel,  whom  I  have  mentioned  be- 
fore, came  to  visit  me  in  prison,   and  assured 
me  that  he  had  done  his  utmost  to  procure 
my  parole  for  enlargement ;  at  which  a  Brit- 
ish  Captain,  who  was  then   the  town-major, 
expressed   compassion    for    the    gentlemen 
confined  in  the  filthy  place,  and  assured   me 
that  he  had    used  his  influence  to  procurq 
their  enlargement ;  his  name  was  near  like 
Ramsay.     Among  the  prisoners  there  were 
five  in  number,  who  had  a  legal  claim  to  a  pa- 
role, viz.  James  Lovel,  Esq.   Capt.  Francis 
Proctor,  a  Mr.  Howland,  master  of  a  Conti- 

nental  armed  vessel,  a  Mr,  Taylor,  his  mate 
and  myself. 

As  to  the  article  of  provision,  we  were  well 

served,  murh  hpH^a*-  *U^^    : 

H2  ' 


90     COL.  E,  alien's   observations, 

captivity  ;  and,  since  it  was  Mr.  Level's  mis- 
fortune and  mine  to  be  prisoners,  and  in  so 
wretched  circumstances,  I  was  happy  that  we 
were  together  as  a  mutual  support  to  each 
other,  and  to  the  unfortunate  prisoners  with 
us.  Our  first  attention  was  the  preservation 
of  ourselves  and  injured  little  republic  ;  the 
rest  of  our  time  we  devoted  interchangeably 
to  politics  and  philosophy,  as  patience  was  a 
needful  exercise  in  so  evil  a  situation,  but 
contentment  mean  and  impracticable. 

I  had  not  been  in  this  gaol  many  days,  be- 
fore a  worthy  and  charitable  woman,  Mrs. 
Blacden,  byname,  supplied  me  with  a  good 
dinner  of  fresh  meats  every  day,  with  garden 
fruit,  and  sometimes  with  a  bottle  of  wine  ; 
notwithstanding  which  I  had  not  been  more 
than  three  weeks  in  this  place,  before  I  lost 
all  appetite  to  the  most  delick)us  food,  by 
the  gaol  distemper,  as  also  did  sundry  of  the 
prisoners,  particularly  a  sergeant  Moore,  a 
man  of  courage  and  fidelity  :  I  have  several 
times  seen  him   hold  the  boatswain  of  the 

o^i^U.,,,  l\.:#Y.r.4£k    TirVi^stt  1-1/*    attpmntPfl  to  strLkd 


i[ 


NS, 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY*, 


91 


's  mis- 
in  so 
hat  we 
>  each 
rs  with 
rvation 
c  ;  the 
geably 
was  a 
n,  but 

^s,  be- 

Mrs. 

;  good 

garden 

wine ; 
\  more 

I  lost 
3d,  by 
of  the 
>ore,  a 
jeveral 
of  the 

strlka 


him,  and  laughed  him  out  of  conceit  of  usins 
him  as  a  slave. 

A  doctor  visited  the  sick,  and  did  the  best, 
as  I  suppose,  he  could  for  them,  to  no  ap- 
parent purpose.     I  grew  weaker  and  weaker, 
as  did  the  rest.     Several  of  them  could  not 
help  themselves.     At  last  I  reasoned  in  my 
own  mind,  that  raw  onion  would  be  good  :  I 
m^de  use  of  it,  and  found  immediate  relief 
by  it,  as  did  the  sick  in  general,  particularly 
sergeant  Moore,  whom  it  recovered  almost 
from  the  shades  ;    though  I  had  met  with  a 
little  revival,     still  I  found   the  malignant 
hand  of  Britain  had  greatly  reduced  my  con- 
stitution  with  stroke  upon  stroke.     Esquire 
Lovel  and  myself  used  every  argument  and 
entreaty  that  could  be  well  conceived  of,  in 
order  to  obtain  gentlemanlike  usage,   to  no 
purpose.     I  then  wrote  Gen.  Massey  as  se- 
vere a  letter  as   I  possibly   could,  with  my 
friend  LovePs  assistance  :    The  contents  of 
it  was  to  give  the  British,  as  a  r,;;^tion,  and 
him  as  an  individual,  their  true  character. 
This  roused  the  rascal,  for  he  could  not  bear 
to  see  his  and  the  nation's  deformity  in  that 


IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-S) 


1.0 


I.I 


^  Hi  IIIIIM 


IU& 


1.25      1.4 

1.6 

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► 

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/^ 


^' 


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Photographic 

Sciences 
Corporation 


A 


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,V 


4 


I 


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\\ 


33  WEST  MAIN  STRUT 

WEBSTER,  NY    MSSO 

(716)  s/a^soi 


'.«^;*^. 

\^''?I<' 
<^^ 

^ 


s.    A. 


fcl 


$2      COL.  E.  ailen's  observations, 

transparent  letter,*  which  I  sent  him  ;  he 
therefore  put  himself  in  a  great  rage  abou|; 
it,  and  shewed  the  letter  to  a  number  of  Brit- 
ish officers,  particularly  to  Capt.  Smith  of  the 
Lark  frigate,  who,  instead  of  joining  with 
him  ?n  disapprobation,  commended  the  spirit 
of  it;  upon  wliich  Gen.  Massey  said  to  him, 
do  you  take  the  part  of  a  rebel  against  me  ? 
Capt.  Smith  answered,  that  he  rather  spoke 
his  sentiments,  and  there  was  a  dissension  in 
opinion  between  them.  Some  officers  took 
the  part  of  the  General,  and  others  of  the 
Captain  :  This  I  was  informed  of  by  a  gentle- 
man v/ho  had  it  from  Capt.  Smith. 

In  a  few  days  after  this,  tlie  prisoners  were 
ordered  to  go  on  board  of  a  man  of  war, 
which  was  bound  for  New- York ;  but  two 
of  them  were  not  able  to  go  on  board,  and 
were  left  at  Halifax  ;  one  died,  and  the  other 
recovered.     This  was  about  the  12th  of  Oc- 


•  We  caXi  easily  excuse,  if  excuse  he  necessary,  tlus 
conduct  of  the  oppressed  prisoner.  After  having  tried 
persuasion,  entreaty  and  every  mild  mean  to  have  his 
condition  ameliorated,  the  last  resource  seemingly   was 


r1        tU. 


%l\*%oj^       t^*\^      ^->  ml  All  fir 
'-'-'-J 


which  he  had  experienced  in  the  most  lively  colours  pos- 
sible;. 


During  his  captivity. 


93 


)0S- 


tober,  and  soon  after  we  had  got  on  board, 
the  Captain  sent  for  me  in  particular  to  come 
on  the  quarter  deck  :  I  went,   i.ot  knowing 
that  it  was  Capt.  Smith,  or  his  ship  at  that 
time,  and  expected  to  meet  the  same  rigor- 
ous usage  I  had  commonly  met  with,   and 
prepared  my  mind  accordingly  ;  but  when  I 
came  on  deck,  the  Captain  met  me  with  his 
hand,  welcomed  me  to  his  ship,  invited  me  to 
dine  with  him  that  day,  and  assured  me  that 
I  should  be  treated  as  a  gentleman,  and  that 
he  had  given  orders,  that  I  should  be  treated 
with  respect  by  the  ship's  crew.     This  was 
so  unexpected  and  sudden  a  transition,  that 
it  drew  tears  from  my  eyes,   which  all  the 
ill  usage  I  had  before  met  with,  was  not  able 
to  produce,  nor  could  I  at  first  hardly  speak, 
but   soon  recovered  myself   and  expressed 
my  gratitude  for  so  unexpected  a  favour  ; 
and  let  him  know  that  I  felt  anxiety  of  mind 
in  reflecting  that  his  situation  and  mine  was 
such,  that  it  was  not  probable  that  it  would 
ever  be  in  my  power  to  return  the  favour. 

Ca*^*"  RmifVl    ft^r^MaA         ♦k«4,      K„    1 1 ^ ^^J 

in  view,  but  only  treated  me  as  a  gentleman 


94      COL.  E.  Allen's  obsehvations, 

ought  to  be  treated  ;  he  said  this  is  a  muta- 
ble world,  and  one  gentleman  never  knows 
but  that  it  mUy  be  in  his  power  to  help  anoth- 
er.  Soon  after  I  found  this  to  be  the  same 
Capt.  Smith  who  took  my  part  against  Gen. 
Massey ;  but  he  never  mentioned  any  thing 
of  it  to  me,  and  I  thought  it  knpoUte  in  me 
to  interrogate  him,  as  to  any  disputes  which 
might  have  arisen  between  him  and  the  Gen- 
eral OR  my  account,  as  I  was  a  prisoner,  and 
that  it  was  at  his  option  to  make  free  with 
me  on  that  subject,  if  he  pleased  ;  and,  if  he 
did  not,  I  might  take  it  for  granted  that  it 
would  be  unpleasing  for  me  to  query  about 
it,  though  I  had  a  strong  propensity  to  con- 
verse with  kim  on  that  subject. 

I  dined  with  the  Captain  agreeable  to  his 
invitation,  and  oftentimes  with  the  Licuten* 
ant,  in  the  gun  room,  but  in  general  ate  and 
,  drank  with  my  friend  Lovel  and  the  other 
gentlemen,  who  were  prisoners  with  me, 
where  I  also  slept. 

We  had  a  little  birth  enclosed  with  canvas, 
between  decks,  where  we  enioved  ourselves 
very  well,  in  hopes  of  an  exchange  ;  besides. 


s, 

muta- 
knows 
anoth- 
t  same 
t  Gen. 
thing 
in  me 
which 
i  Gen- 
^r,  and 
e  with 
I,  if  he 
that  it 
about 
to  con- 
to  his 
euten* 
ite  and 
;  other 
:h  me, 

:anvas, 
rselves 
esides, 


DtrHlNG    HIS    CAPTIVITT. 


»s 


our  friends  at  Halifax  had  a  Ihtle  notice  of 
our  departure,  and  supphed  us  with  spirituous 
liquor,  and  many  articles  of  provision  for  the 
cost.      Capt.  Burk,  having  been  taken  pris- 
oner,  was  added  to  our  company,  (he  had 
commanded  an  American  armed  vessel)  and 
was  generously  treated  by  the  Captain  and  all 
the  officers  of  the  ship,  as  well  as  myself.  We 
now  had  in  all  near  thirty  prisoners  on  board, 
and  as  we  were  sailing  along  the  coast,  if  I 
recollect  right,  off  Rhode-Island,  Capt.  Burk, 
with  an  under  officer  of  the  ship,  whose  name 
I  do  not  recollect,  came  to  our  litde  birth,  pro- 
posed to  kill  Capt.  Smith  and  the  principal 
officers  of  the  frigate  and  take  it ;    adding 
that  there  were  thirty  five  thousand  pounds 
sterling  in  the  same.     Capt.  Burk  likewise 
averred  that  a' strong  party  out  of  the  ship's 
crew  was  in  the  conspiracy,  and  urged  me, 
and  the  gentleman  that  was  with  me,  to  use 
our  influence  with  the  private  prisoners,  to 
execute  the  design,  and  take  the  ship  with 
the  cash  into  one  of  our  own  ports. 

Upon  which  I  replied,  that  we  had  been  too 
well  used  on  board  to  murder  the  officers ; 


96       COL,  E.  Allen's  observations, 


that  I  could  by  no  means  reconcile  it  to  my 
conscience,  and  that  in  fact  it  should  not  be 
done  ;  and,  while  I  was  yet  speaking,  my 
friend  Lovel  confirmed  what  I  had  said,  and 
farther  pointed  out  the  ungratefulness  of 
such  an  act ;  that  it  did  not  fall  short  of  mur- 
der, and  in  fine  all  the  gentlemen  in  the  birth 
opposed  Capt.  Burk  and  his  colleague :  But 
they  strenuously  urged  that  the  conspiracy 
would  be  found  out,  and  that  it  would  cost 
them  their  lives,  provided  they  did  not  exe- 
cute their  design.  I  then  interposed  spirit- 
edly, and  put  an  end  to  farther  argument  on 
the  subject,  and  told  them  that  they  might  de- 
pend upon  it,  upon  my  honor,  that  I  would 
faithfully  guard  Capt.  Smith's  life  :  If  they 
should  attempt  the  assault,  I  would  assist 
him,  for  they  desired  me  to  remain  neuter, 
and  that  the  same  honor  that  guarded  Capt. 
Smith's  life,  would  also  guard  theirs ;  and  it 
was  agreed  by  those  present  not  to  reveal  the 
conspiracy,  to  the  intent  that  no  man  should 
be  put  to  death,  in  consequence  of  what  had 


i' 


-_-j----i-_--i.  J 


-,     ^^^^   ~^--.^- 


league    went  to    stifle    the  matter  among 


fs, 


DURING    HIS    CxlPTIVITY. 


97 


to  my 
not  be 

i,  and 
ess  of 
f  mur- 
;  birth 
t:  But 
jpiracy 
d  cost 
t  exe- 
spirit- 
ent  on 
ght  de- 
would 
[f  they 

assist 
neuter, 

Capt. 

and  it 

'^eal  the 

should 

at  had 


hi 


iQ  on 


1. 


among 


their  associates.  I  could  not  help  calling  to 
mind  what  Capt.  Smith  said  to  me,  when  I 
first  came  on  board :  "  This  is  a  mutable 
world,  and  one  gentleman  never  knows  but 
that  it  may  be  in  his  power  to  help  another."* 
Captain  Smith  and  his  officers  still  behaved 
with  their  usual  courtesy,  and  I  never  heard 
any  more  of  the  conspiracy. 

We  arrived  before  New- York,  and  cast  an- 
chor the  latter  part  of  October  where  we  re- 
mained several  days,  and  where  Capt.  Smith 
informed  me,  that  he  had  recommended  me 
to  Adm.  Howe  and  Gen.  Sir  Wm.  Howe,  as 
a  gentleman  of  honor  and  veracity,  and  desir- 
ed that  I  might  be  treated  as  such.  Capt. 
Burk  was  then  ordered  on  board  a  prison-ship 
in  the  harbor.  I  took  my  leave  of  Capt. 
Smith,  and,  with  the  other  prisoners,  was 

*  A  memorable  instance  this  of  the  value  of  a  ffener- 
ous  action.  Had  the  conduct  of  Capt.  Smith  equalled 
m  atrocity  and  cruelty  that  of  Capt.  Simonds  of  the  Sole- 
bay,  It  IS  not  impossible  that  Col.  Allen,  goaded  by  his 
repeated  abuse,  might  have  consented  to  the  killini;  of 
the  ship  s  crew.  In  this  instance  the  pious  reader  will 
discern  the  hand  of  an  overruling  providence,  who.  even 
111  cms  lire,  trequently  extends  to  the  doer  of  a  Rood  ac- 
tion Us  appropriate  reward. 


98      COL.  E-.    alien's    OBSEHVAflONS, 


sent  on  board  a  transport-ship,  which  lay  in 
the  harbour,  commanded  by  Capt.  Craige, 
who  took  me  into  the  cabin  with  him  and  his 
Lieut.     I  fared  as  they  did,  and  was  in  eve- 
ry respect  well  treated,  in  consequence  of  di- 
rections from  Capt.  Smith.     In  a  few  weeks 
after  this  I  had  the  happiness  to  part  with  my 
friend  Lovel,  for  his  sake,  whom  the  enemy  af- 
fected to  treat  as  a  private  ;  he  was  a  gentle- 
man of  merit,  and  liberally  educated,  but  had 
no  commission  ;  they  maligned  him  on  ac- 
count of  his  unshaken  attachment  to  the  cause 
Of  his  country.     He  was  exchanged  for  a 
Gov.   Phillip  Skene  of  the  British.     I  was 
continued  in  this  ship  till  the  latter  part  of 
November,  where  I  contracted  an  acquaint- 
ance  with  the  C**pt.  of  the  British ;  his  name 
has  slipped  my  memory.     He  was  what  we 
may  call  a  genteel  hearty  fellow.     I  remem- 
ber an  expression  of  his  over  a  bottle  of  wine, 
to  this  import :    "  That  there  is  greatness  of 
soul  for  personal  friendship  to  subsist  between 
you  and  me,  as  we  are  upon  opposite  sides, 

1       .  .  _  xl J 1-.^   ^Kllnoorl  ♦rv  far*** 

ana  may  ai  anotiicr  u«^    wc  ^un^^-^  '••^-  ^  -- 
each  other  in  the  field."     I  am  confident  that 


BITEINC    UlS    CAPTIVITy. 


99 


lay  in 
raigCf 
id  his 
neve- 
ofdi- 
wecks 
th  my 
myaf- 
rcntle- 
ut  had 
3n  ac- 
;  cause 
for  a 
I  was 
3art  of 
quaint- 
5  name 
hit  we 
emem- 
f  wine, 
ness  of 
etween 
t  sides, 


♦n  fnCC^ 


:nt  that 


he  was  as  faithful  ^s  any  officer  in  the  Brit- 
ish army.  At  another  sitting  he  offered  to 
bet  a  dozen  of  wine,  that  fort  Washington 
would  be  in  the  hands  of  the  British  in  three 

s 

days.  I  stood  the  bet,  and  would,  had  I 
known  that  that  would  have  been  the  case, 
and  the  third  day  afterwards  we  heard  a  pro- 
digious heavy  cannonade,  and  that  day  the 
fort  was  taken  sure  enough.  Some  months 
after,  when  I  was  on  parole,  he  called  upon 
me  with  his  usual  humour,  and  mentioned 
the  bet.  I  acknow  ledged  I  had  lost  it,  but 
ke  said  he  did  not  m  ean  to  take  it  then,  as  I 
was  a  prisoner ;  that  he  would  another  day 
call  on  me,  when  their  army  came  to  Ben- 
nington.  I  replied,  that  he  was  quite  too 
generous,  as  I  had  fairly  lost  it  :  besides,  the 
Green  Mountain  Boys  would  not  suffer  them 
to  come  to  Bennington,  This  was  all  in  good 
humour.  I  should  have  been  glad  to  have 
seen  him  after  the  defeat  at  Bennington,  but 
did  not.  It  was  customary  for  a  guard  to 
attend  the  prisoners,  which  was  often  chang- 

necticut,  in  the  vicinity  of  Fairfield  and  Green 


100      COL.  E.  Allen's  observations, 

Farms.      The  sergeant's  name  was   Hoit. 
They  were  very  full  of  their  invectives  a- 
gainst  the  country,  swaggered  of  their  loyalty 
to  their  king,  and  exclaimed  bitterly  against 
the  *<  cowardly  yankies,"  as  they  were  pleas- 
ed to  term  them,  but  finally  contented  them- 
selves with  saying  that,  when  the  country 
was  overcome,  they  should  be  well  reward- 
ed for  their  loyalty,  out  of  the  estates  of  the 
whigs,  which  would  be  confiscated.     This  I 
found  to  be  the  general  language  of  tories, 
after  I  arrived  from  England  on  the  Ameri- 
can coast.     I  heard  sundry  of  them  relate, 
that  the  British  Generals  had  engaged  them 
an  ample  reward  for  all  their  losses,  disap- 
pointments and  expenditures,  out  of  the  for- 
feited rebels'  estates.     This  language  early 
taught  me  what  to  do  with  tories'  estates,  as 
far  as  my  influence  can  go.     For  it  is  really 
a  game  of  hazard  between  whig  and  tory  : 
The  whigs  must  inevitably  have  lost  all,  in 
consequence  of  the  abilities  of  the  tories, 
and  their  good  friends,  the  British ;  and  it  is 

^1 !«.U4.  *U^    f^vl^o  clnnnlr!  rim  the 

no  more  umu  ligii^'  "*^   4,^*--=^  ..•..-^, 

same  risk,  in  consequence   of   the  abilities 


rs, 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


101 


Hoit. 
res  a- 
oyalty 
gainst 
pleas- 
them- 
Duntry 
iward- 
of  the 
This  I 
tories, 
Vmeri- 
relate, 
ithem 
disap- 
he  for- 
e  early 
ites,  as 
I  really 
L  tory  : 
all,  in 
tories, 
nd  it  is 
run  the 
ibilities 


of  the  whigs  :  But  of  this  more  will  be  ob- 
served  in  the  sequel  of  this  narrative. 

Some  of  the  last  days  of  November,  the 
prisoners  virere  landed  at  New- York,   and  I 
was  admitted  to  parole  with  the  other  offi- 
cers,  viz.    Procter,  Rowland  and  Taylor. — 
The  privates  were  put  into  the  filthy  church- 
es in  New- York,  with  the  distressed  prison- 
ers that  were  taken  at  fort  Washington  ;  and 
the   second   night,  sergeant  Roger  Moore, 
who  was  bold  and  enterprizing,  found  means 
to  make  his  escape  with  every  of  the  remain- 
ing, prisoners  that  were  taken  with  me,  ex- 
cept three,  who  were  soon  after  exchanged  : 
So  that,  out  of  thirty-one  prisoners,  who  went 
with  me  the  round  exhibited  in  these  sheets, 
two  only  died  with  the  enemy,  and  three  on- 
ly were  exchanged  ;    one  of  whom  died  after 
he  came  within  our  lines  ;  all  the  rest,  at  dif- 
ferent times,  made  iheir  escape  from  the  en- 
emy.* 

*  The  sufferings  of  our  hero,  during  his  captivit)-, 
though  perhaps  the  consequence   of  his  own  rashness, 

VSfPVf^  hlYkT'lO'Kf  nK/-k*il-  Kit  nn    .■%-»tA^yi.4.  »»r.!     J«    .«.I r  i?« 


O    ' 


12 


102     COL.  E.  Allen's  observations, 

I  now  fouud  myself  on  parole,  and  restrict- 
ed to  the  limits  of  the  city  of   New- York, 
where  I  soon  projected  means  to  live  in  some 
measure  agreeable  to  my  rank,  though  I  was 
destitute  of  cash.     My  constitution  was  al- 
most worn  out  by  such  a  long  and  barbar- 
ous captivity.     The  enemy  gave  out  that  I 
was  crazy,  and  wholly  unmanned,  but  my 
vitals  held  sound,   nor  was  I  delirious  any 
more  than  I  have  been  from  youth  up  ;  but 
my  extreme  circumstances,  at  certain  times, 
rendered  it  political  to  act  in  some  measure 
the  madman ;  and,  in  consequence  of  a  regu- 
lar diet  and  exercise,  my  blood  recruited,  and 
my  nerves  in  a  great  measure  recovered  their 
former  tone,  strength  and  usefulness,  in  the 
course  of  six  months. 

I  next  invite  the  reader  to  a  retrospective 
sight  and  consideration  of  the  doleful  scene 
of  inhumanity,  exercised  by  Gen.  Sir  Will- 
iam Howe,  and  the  army  under  his  command, 


erty,  which  made  him  willing  to  mn  hazards  which  cir- 
cumstances would  hardly  justify.  Had  this  not  been 
*i ..^  u^  «7«„iri  r^iTiKahiv  have  never  been  carried  a 

prisoner  to  England. 


NS, 

Strict- 
York, 

some 
I  was 
^as  al- 
irbar- 
that  I 
lit  my 
s  any 

;  but 
times, 
easure 

regu- 
d,  and 
d  their 

in  the 

pectivc 
1  scene 
r  Will- 
imand, 


hich  cir- 
not  been 
carried  a 


DURING    HIS  CAPTIVITY.  103 

towards  the  prisoners  taken  on  Long-Island, 
on  the  27th  day  of  August,  1776  ;  sundry  of 
whom  were,  in  an  inhuman  and  barbarous 
manner,  murdered  after  they  had  surrender- 
ed their  arms;  particularly  a  Gen.  Odel,  or 
Woodhul,  of  the  militia,  who  was  hacked  to 
pieces  with  cutlasses,  when  alive,  by  the  light 
horsemen,  and  a  Capt.  Fellows,  of  the  Conti- 
nental army,  who  was  thrust  through  with  a 
bayonet,  of  which  vvound  he  died  instantly. 

Sundry  others  were  hanged  up  by  the  neck 
till  they  were  dead  ;  five  on  .the  limb  of  a 
white  oak  tree,  and  without  any  reason  as- 
signed, except  that  they  were  fighting,  in  de- 
fence of  the  only  blessing  worth  preserving  : 
And  indeed  those  who  had  the  m  isfortune  to 
fall  into  their  hands  at  fort  Washington,  in 
the  month  of  Nov.  following,  met  with  but 
very  little  better  usage,  except  that  they 
were  reserved  from  immediate  death  to  fam- 
ish and  die  with  hunger  ;  in  fine,  the  word 
rebel,  applied  to  any  vanquished  persons, 
without  regard  to  rank,  who  were  in  the  con- 
tinental service,  on  the  27th  of  August  afore- 
said, was  thought,  by  the  enem/,  sufficient 


104     COL.  E.  Allen's  observations, 


■% 


to  sanctify  whatever  cruelties  they  were  pleas- 
ed to  inflict,  death  itttelf  not  excepted  ;  but 
to  pass  over  particulars  which  would  swell 
my  narrative  far  beyond  my  design. 

The  private  soldiers,  who  were  brought  to 
New- York,  were  crowded  into  churches,  and 
environed  with  slavish  Hessian  guards,  a  peo- 
ple of  ai  strange  language,  who  were  sent  to 
America  for  no  other  design  but  cruelty  and 
desolation  ;  and  at  others,  by  merciless  Brit- 
ons, whose  mode  of  comniunicating  ideas  be- 
ing intelligible  in  this  country  served  only  to 
tantalize  and  insult  the  helpless  and  perishing ; 
but,  above  all,  the  hellish  delight  and  triumph 
of  the  toriesover  them,  as  they  were  dying 
by  hundreds  :  This  was  too  much  for  me  to 
bear  as  a  spectator  ;  for  I  saw  the  tories  ex- 
ulting over  the  dead  bodies  of  their  murder- 
ed countrymen.  I  have  gone  into  the  church- 
es,  and  seen  sundry  of  die  prisoners  in  tlxe 
agonies  of  death,  in  consequence  of  very 
hunger,  and  others  speechless,  and  near 
death,  biting  pieces  of  chips  ;    others  plead* 


lU!. 


Ill 


^   lui     vjruu  s    Sctiwc,    lui     auuivvitiiig    cv> 


\^Mti 


and  at  the  same  time,  shivering  with  the 


rs, 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


105 


pleas- 

;    but 

swell 

ght  to 
:s,  and 
a  peo- 
£nt  to 
y  and 
Brit- 
;as  be- 
mly  to 
ihing ; 
Lumph 
dying 
me  to 
s  ex- 
Lirder- 
lurch* 
in  tlie 
very 
near 
)lead- 

h  the 


cold.  Hollow  groans  saluted  my  ears,  and 
despair  seemed  to  be  imprinted  on  every  of 
their  countenances.  The  filth  in  these  church- 
es, in  consequence  of  the  fluxes,  was  almost 
beyond  description.  The  floors  were  cover- 
ed with  excrements.  I  have  carefully  sought 
to  direct  my  steps  so  as  to  avoid  it,  but  could 
not.  They  would  beg  for  God's  sake  fair 
one  copper,  or  morsel  of  bi  ead.  I  have  seen 
in  one  of  these  churches  seven  dead,  at  the 
same  time,  lying  among  the  excremeuts  of 
their  bodies. 

It  was  a  common  practice  with  the  enemy, 
to  convey  the  dead  from  these  filthy  places, 
in  carts,  to  be  slightly  buried,  and  I  have  seeh 
whole  gangs  of  tories  making  derision,  and 
exulting  over  the  dead,  saying,  there  goes 
another  load  of  damned  rebels.  I  have  ob- 
served the  British  soldiers  to  be  full  of  thdr 
black-guard  jokes,  and  vaunting  on  those  oc- 
casions, but  they  appeared  to  me  less  malig- 
nant than  tories.* 


^  However  the  reader  of  these  enormities  may  feel 
exasperated,  as  undoubtedly  he  docs,  at  the  conihtct  of 
the  British  und  ulienutcd  Americans,  it  is  wrong  to  ac- 


106     COL.  E.  ajlxen's  observations, 

The  provision  dealt  out  to  the  prisoners 
was  by  no  means  sufficient  for  the  support  of 
life  :  It  was  deficient  in  quantity,  and  much 
more  so  in  quality.  The  prisoners  often 
presented  me  with  a  sample  of  their  bread, 
which  I  certify  was  damaged  to  that  degree, 
%  that  it  was  loathsome  and  unfit  to  be  eaten, 
Und  I  am  bpld  to  aver  it,  as  my  opinion,  that 
it  had  been  condemned,  and  was  of  the  very 
wprsi  sort.  I  have  seen  and  been  fed  upon 
^am^ged  bread,  in  the  course  of  my  cap- 
tivity, and  observed  the  quality  of  such 
bread  a?  has  been  condemned  by  the  enemy, 
among  which  was  very  little  so  effectually 
spoiled  as  what  was  dealt  out  to  these  prison- 
ers. Their  allowance  of  meat  (as  they  told 
me)  was  quite  trifling,  and  of  the  basest  sort. 
I  never  saw  any  of  if,  but  was  informed,  bad 
as  it  was,  it  was  swallowed  almost  as  quick 


cwse  a  body  of  men,  indiscriminately,  of  the  commission 
of  crimes.  Amon^  the  latter  were  no  doubt  many  who 
■were  not  sorry  for,  or  mij^ht  exult  in  th<;  persecution  ; 
but  as  probably  there  were  many  who  acted  from  what 
thev  deemed  nrinc!Dle=  A  whole  sect  of  any  descrip- 
tion do  not  merit  denunciation  in  consequence  of  the 
perfidy  of  u  part. 


[ONS, 

ri&oners 
pport  of 
I  much 
:s  often 

bread, 
degree, 

eaten, 
>n,  that 
le  very 
d  upon 
ly  cap- 
>f  such 
enemy, 
ectually 
prison- 
ley  told 
est  sort, 
ed,  bad 
s  quick 


mmission 
iTiany  who 
secutioii ; 
rom  what 
descHp- 
ice  of  the 


CtrAlWG    KIS    CAttiVltY* 


itfr 


as  they  got  hold  of  it.     I  saw  some  of  them 
sucking  bones  after  they  were  speechless ; 
others,  who  could  yet  speak,   and  had  the 
use  of  their  reason,  urged  me,  in  the  strong, 
est  and  most  pathetic  manner,  to  use  my  in- 
terest in  their  behalf;    for  you   plainly  see, 
said  they,  that  we  are   devoted  to  death  and 
destruction  ;  and,  after  I  had  examined  more 
particularly  into  their  truly  deplorable  con- 
dition,  and  had  become  more  fully  apprized 
of  the  essential  facts,  I  was  persuaded  that  it 
was  a  premeditated  and  systematical  plan  of 
the  British  council,  to  destroy  the  youths  of 
our  land,  with  a  view  thereby  to  deter  the 
country,  and  make  it  submit  to  their  despot- 
ism ;  but  that  I  could  not  do  them  any  mate- 
rial  service,  and  that,  by  any  public  attempt 
for  that  purpose,  I  might  endanger  myself  by 
frequenting  places  the  most  nauseous  and 
contagious  that  could  be  conceived  of.     I  re- 
fraincd  going  into  the  churches,  but  frequent- 
ly  conversed  with  such  of  the  prisoners  a^ 
were  admitted  to  come  out  into  the  yard,   and 
found  that  the  systematical  usage  still  contin- 
ued.     The  guard  would  oft'^n  drive    me 


108     COL,  E.  Allen's  observations, 


•..u' 


away  with  their  fixed  bayonets.     A  Hessian 
one  day  followed  me  five  or  six  rods,  buf  by 
making  use  of  my  legs,  I  got  rid  of  the  lub- 
ber.    Sometimes  I  could  obtain  a  little  con- 
versation, notwithstanding  their  severities. 
I  was  in  one  of  the  church  yards,  and  it  was 
.  rumoured   among  those  in  the  church,  and 
sundry  of  the  prisoners  came  with  their  usual 
complaints  to  me,  and  among  the  rest  a  large 
boned,  tall  young  man,  as  he  told  me,   from 
Pennsylvania,  who  was  reduced  to  a  mere 
skeleton  ;  he  said  he  was  glad  to  see  me  be- 
fore he  died,  which  he  had  expected  to  have 
/  done  last  night,  but  was  a  little  revived ;  he 
farthermore  informed    me,  that  he  and  his 
brother  had  been  urged  to  enlist  into  the  Brit- 
ish, but  had  both  resolved  to  die   first ;  that 
his  brother  had  died  last  night,  in  conse- 
quence of  that  resolution,  and  that  he  expect- 
ed shortly  to  follow  him  ;    but   I  made  the 
other  prisoners  stand  a  little  off,  and  told  him 
with  a  low  voice  to  enlist ;    he  then  asked, 
whether  it  was  right  in  the  sight  of  God  ?  I 
assured  him  that   it  was,   and   that  duty   to 
himself  obliged  him  to  deceive  the  British  by 


ONS. 


f»URING^IS    CAPTIvIty. 


109 


Hessian 
,  but  by 
the  lub- 
ttle  gon- 
Tities. 
id  it  was 
•ch,   and 
sir  usual 
,t  a  large 
le,   from 
a  mere 
2  me  be- 
to  have 
ived;  he 
and  his 
the  Brit- 
rst ;  that 
1  conse- 
^  expect- 
made  the 
told  him 
n  asked, 
God?  I 
duty   to 
Jritish  by 


enlisting  and  deserting  the  first  opportunity  ; 
upon  which  he  answered  with  transport,  that 
he  would  enlist.  I  charged  him  noli^o  men- 
tion my  name  as  his  adviser,  lest  it  should  get 
air,  and  I  should  be  closely  confined,  in  con- 
sequence of  it.  Th^  integrity  of  these  suf- 
fering prisoners  is  hardly  credible.  Many 
hundreds,  I  am  confident,  submitted  to  death, 
rather  than  enlist  in  the  British  service,  which, 
I  am  informed,  they  most  generally  were  pres- 
sed to  do.  I  was  astonished  at  the  resolution 
of  the  two  brothers  particularly ;  it  seems  that 
they  could  not  be  stimulated  to  such  exer-' 
tions  of  heroism  from  ambition,  as  they  were 
but  obscure  soldiers ;  strong  indeed  must 
the  internal  principle  of  virtu*;  be,  which  sup- 
ported them  to  brave  death,  and  one  of  them 
went  through  the  operation,  as  did  many 
hundred  others.  I  readily  grant  that  instan- 
ces of  public  virtue  are  no  excitement  to  the 
sordid  and  vicious,  nor,  on  the  other  hand, 
will  all  the  barbarity  of  Britain  and  Hesh- 
land*  awaken  them  to  a  sense  of  iheir  duty 

•  Meant  for  Hesse,  in  Germany.    These  troops  were 

K 


r 


Hk 


.  I 

n 

4 


lib      cot.    £.    ALLAN'S    #bSERVATlONS, 

to  the  public ;  but  these  things  will  have  their 
proper  effect  on  the  generous  and  brave.— 
The  olfters  on  parole  were  most  of  them  zea- 
lous, if  possible,  to  afford  the  miserable  sol- 
diery  relief,  and  often  consulted  with  one 
another  on  the  subject,  iut  to  no  effect,  being 
destitute  of  the  means  of  subsistence,  which 
they  needed  ;  nor  could  the  officers  project 
any  measure,  which^hey  thought  would  al- 
ter  their  fate,  or  so  much  as  be  a  mean  of  get- 
ting tliem  out  of  those  filthy  places  to .  the 
privilege  of  fresh  air.     Some  projected  that 

\ll  the  officers  should  go  in  procession  to 
Gen.  Howe,  and  plead  the  cause  of  the  per- 
ishing soldiers ;  but  this  proposal  was  nega. 
tived  for  the  fallowing  reasons,  viz.  because 
that  Gen.  Howe  must  needs  be  well  acquaint- 
ed, and  have  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the 
state  and  condition  of  the  prisoners  in  every 
of  their  wretched  apartments,  and  that  much 
more  particular  and  exact  than  any  officer  on 

what  were  called  mercenaries  ;  being  in  the  pay  of  a 
fc.,,«;o.n  DQvver.  To  a  free  born  American,  the  takmg 
up  of  arms  in  any  other  cause  than  the  defence  or  honor 
o^'his  oWn  country,  appears  indescribably  degrading. 


IONS, 


m 


DURING"  ms    CAPTIVITY, 


lU 


ive  their 
brave. — • 
lem  zea- 
ible  sol- 
vith  one 
ct,  being 
e,  which 
5  project 
rbuld  al- 
in  of  get* 
;s  to. the 
:ted  that 
^ssion  to 
the  per- 
/as  nega- 

because 
acquaint- 
^e  of  the 

in  every 
bat  much 
officer  on 


le  pay  of  a 
the   taking 
ice  or  honor 
jgrading. 


parole  could  be  supposed  to  have,  as  the  Gen- 
eral had  a  return  of  the  circumstances  of  the 
prisoners,  by  bis  own  officers,  everjl^  morn- 
ing, of  the  number  which  were  alive,  as  also 
the  number  which  died  every  twenty  four 
hours;  and  consequ^tly  the  bill  of  mortality, 
as  collected  from  the  daily  returns,  lay  be- 
fore him  with  all  the  material  situations  and 
circumstances  of  the  prisoners  ;  and  provid- 
ed the  officers  should  go  in  procession  to 
Gen.  Howe,  according  to  the  projection,  it 
would  give  him  the  greatest  aifront,  and  that 
he  would  either  retort  upon  them,  that  if 
was  no  part  of  their  parole  to  instruct  him  in 
his  conduct  to  prisoners;  that  they  were 
mutinying  against  his  authority;  and,  by  af- 
fronting him,  had  forfeited  their  parole;  or 
that,  more  probably,  instead  of  saying  one 
word  to  them,  would  order  them  all  into  as 
wretched  a  confinement  as  the  soldiers  whom 
they  sought  to  relieve  ;  for,  at  that  time,  the 
British,  from  the  General  to  the  private  ccn- 
tinel,  were  in  full  confidence,  nor  did  they  so 
mucii  as  iiCaitate,  but  that  they  should  con- 
quer the  country.      Thus  rfie  consultation  oi 


I 'I 


.11 
m 


112 


COL.  E.  Allen's  observations, 


■:| 


•i 


III 


\  .  - 

r>    I-    — 


the  officers  was  confounded  and  broken  to 
pieces,  in  consequence  of  the  dread,  which  at 
that  time  lay  on  their  minds,  of  offending 
Gen.  Howe  ;  for  they  conceived  so  murder- 
ous a  tyrant  would  not  be  too  good  to  des- 
troy even  the  officers,  off  the  least  pretence  of 
an  affiront,  as  they  were  equally  in  his  power 
with  the  soldiers  ;  andf  as  Gen.  Howe  per- 
fectly understood  the  condition  of  the  private 
soldiers,  it  was  argued  that  it  was  exactly 
such  as  he  and  his  council  had  devised,  and 
as  he  meant  to  destroy  them  it  would  be  to 
no  purpose  for  them  to  try  to  dissuade  him 
from  it,  as  they  were  helpless  and  liable  to 
the  same  fate,  on  giving  the  least  affront ;  in- 
deed anxious  apprehensions  disturbed  them 
in  their  then  circumstances. 

Mean  time  mortality  raged  to  such  an  in- 
tolerable degree  among  the  prisoners,  that  the 
very  school  boys  in  the  streets  knew  the  men- 
tal design  of  it  in  some  measure  ;  at  least, 
they  knew  that  they  were  starved  to  death. 
Some  poor  women  contributed  to  their  ne- 
cessity, tiii  their  children  were  almost  starv- 
ed, and  all  persons  of  common  understand- 


#■ 


ms^a^  - 


JDUEING    HIS    CAPTIVIXy. 


113 


oken  to 
which,  at 
fFending 
murder- 
to  des- 
tence  of 
is  power 
we  per- 
private 
exactly 
led,  and 
i  be  to 
ade  him 
iable  to 
ont ;  in- 
^d  them 

I  an  in- 
that  the 
he  men- 
at  least, 
Q  death, 
heir  ne- 
►st  starv- 
ierstand- 


ing  knew  that  they  were  devoted  to  the  cru- 
elest  and  worst  of  deaths.     It  was   also  pro- 
posed  by  some  to  make  a  written  representa- 
tion of  the  condition  of  the  soldiery,  and  the 
officers  to  sign  it,  and  that  it  should  be  couch^ 
ed  in  such  terms,  as  though  they  were  appre- 
hensive that  the  Genlral  was   imposed  upon 
by  his  officers,  in  their  daily  returns   to  him 
of  the  state  and  condition  of  the  prisoners  ; 
and  that  therefore  the  officers,  moved  with 
compassion,  were  constrained  to  communi- 
cate to  him  the  facts  relative  to  them,  nothing 
doubting  but  that  they  would  meet  with  a 
speedy  redress  ;  but  this  proposal  was  most 
generally  negatived  also,  and  for  much   the 
same  reason  offered  in  the  other  case  ;  for  it 
was  conjectured  that  Gen.  Howe's  indigna- 
tion would  be  moved  against  such  officers  as 
should  attempt  to  whip  him  over  his  officers' 
backi^ ;  that  he  would  discern  that  himself 
was  really  struck  at,  and  not  the  officers  who 
m^de  the  daily  returns ;    and  therefore  self 
preservation  deterred  the  officers  from  either 
petitioning  pr  remonstrating  to  Gen.  Howe, 

^2 


r 


'M'. 


I;  1 


1 ; 


114      "J^«I-    ALIEN'S    (UfSEBVATIONS, 

either  verbailyor  in  writing,  as  also  the  cln. 
'     «f-at.onthatno  valuable  pu^ose  to  the  dis- 

.    tressed,would  be  obtained. 

I  made  several  rough  drafts  on  the  subject  • 
ene  of  which  I  exhibited  to  the  Cols.  C 
gaw,  Miles,  and  Atlef>  ^r,A  *t.        •.  , 
would  consider  the  mWr  ;    soon  after  I 

«fomed  me,  that  they  had  written  to  the 
Gen.  on  the  subject,  and  I  concluded  that 
*e  gent  emen  thought  it  best  that  they  should 
write  without  me,  as  there  was  such  spirited 
aversion  subsisting  between  the  British  and 
me* 

In  the  mean  tfme  a  Col.  Hussecker,  of  the 
eontmental  army,  as  he  then  reported,  was 
taken  prisoner,  and  brought  to  New- York 
who  gave  out  that  the  country  was  almost  uni- 
versally submitting  to  the  English  king's  au- 
thonty,  and  that  there  would  be  little  or  no 
more  opposition  to  Great-Britain  :  This  at 
first  gave  the  officers  a  little  shock,  but  in  a 
few  days  they  recovered  themselves ;  for  this 
Col.  Hussecker,  being  a  German,  was  feast, 
mg  with  Gen.  De  Heister.  his  ^n..«» 


TlONSf 

3  the  con- 
0  the  dis. 

'  subject,* 
)Is.   Ma- 
;hat  they 

after  I 
■ntlemen 

to  the 
ied  that 
^  should 
spirited 
ish  and 

,  of  the 
d,  was 
-York, 
)st  uni- 
g's  au- 

or  no 
rhis  at 
tt  in  a 
or  this 

feast- 

«r*vt  <h»« 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY.  115 

and  from  his  conduct  they  were  apprehensive, 
thatTie  was  a  knave  ;  at  least  he  was  esteem, 
ed  so  by  most  of  the  officers  ;    it  was  never- 
theless a  day  of  trouble.     The  enemy  blas- 
phemed.    Our  little  army  was  retreating  fin 
New-Jersey,  and  gur  young  men  murder- 
ed by  hundreds  in   New- York  :    The  army 
of  Britain  and  Heshland  prevailed  for  a  little 
season,  as  though  it  was  ordered  by  Heaven 
fo  shew,  to  the  latest  posterity,  what  the  Brit- 
ish would  have  done  if  they  could,  and  what 
the  general  calamity  must  have  been,  in  con- 
sequence of  their  conquermg  the  country, 
and  to  excite  every  honest  man  to  stand 
forth  in  the  defence  of  liberty,  and  to  estab- 
Ush  the  independency  of  the  United  States  of 
America  forever  :  But  this  scene  of  adverse 
•fortune  did  not  discourage  a  Washington  : 
The  illustrious  American  hero  remained  im- 
moveable.     In  liberty's  cause  he  took  up  his 
sword  :  This  reflection  was  his  support  and 
consolation  in  the  day  of  his  humiliation 
when  he  retreated  before  the  enemy,  through 
New-Jersey  into  Pennsylvania.      Their  tri- 
-uinphonly  roused  his  indignation  ;    and  the 


s.^ 


It. 

» — 


■■■I 


1  -■? 


P"*j*5?i 


Ifi^ 


116     COL.  E.  Allen's  observations 

important  cause  of  his  country,  which  lay  near 
his  heart,  moved  him  to  cross  the  Delatvare 
again,  and  take  ample  satisfaction  on  his  pur- 
suers. No  sooner  had  he  circumvallated  his 
li^ghty  foes,  and  appeared  in  terrible  array, 
but  the  host  of  Heshland  fell.  This  taught 
America  the  intrinsic  worth  of  perseverance, 
and  the  generous  sons  of  freedom  flew  to  the 
standard  of  their  common  safeguard  and  de- 
fence ;  from  which  time  the  arm  of  Ameri- 
can liberty  hath  prevailed.* 

This  sarprize  and  capture  of  the  Hessians 
enraged  the  enemy,  who  were  still  vastly 

*  The  American  army  being  greatly  reduced  by  the 
loss  of  men  taken  prisoners,  and  by  the  departure  of 
men  whose  inlistments  had  expired,  general  Washing- 
ton was  obliged  to  retreat  towards  Philadelphia ;  gener- 
al Howe,  exulting  in  his  successes,  pursued  him,  not- 
withstandmg  the  weather  was  severely  cold.  To  add  to 
the  disasters  of  the  Americans,  general  Lee  was  surpris- 
ed and  taken  prisoner  at  Baskenridge.  In  this  gloomy 
state  of  affairs,  ma^v  persons  joined  the  British  cause 
and  took  protections.  But  a  small  band  of  heroes  check 
edthe  tide  of  British  success.  A  didyion  of  Hessia' , 
,had  advanced  to  Trenton,  where  they  reposed  in  secur.- 
ity.  General  Washington  was  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  Delaware,  with  about  three  thousand  men,  many  of 
whom  were  without  shoes  or  conv  lent  clothing  ;  and 
the  river  was  cg/€.«s1  with  floating  j.  But  the  gener- 
^  ^uew  the  iui^H  '^aiTvc  oi  striking  SQme  supce^sf^ 


more 
They 
Princ 
was  t 
a  det; 
town, 
was  a 
thoug 
ing  V 
stand 
his  sa 
feet  t] 
time] 
enem 
night 
them, 
guard 
of  the 
perce; 
back  1 


blow,  tc 
on  the  1 
fell  on  t 
consist! 
killed,  i 


!^^ 


ONS, 

ay  near 
latvare 
is  pur- 
ted  hi3 

array, 
taught 
irance, 

to  the 
id  de- 
bneri- 

^ssians 
vastly 


by  the 
'ture  of 
'ashing- 

g^ener- 
m,  not- 
3  add  to 
surpris- 
gloomy 
1  cause 
>  check 
lessia' . 

secur.- 

side  of 
iiany  of 
g  ;  and 

gener- 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY, 


# 


117 


more  numerous  than  the  continental  troops  : 
They  therefore  collected,  and  marched  from 
Princetown,  to  attack  Gen.  Washington,  who 
was  then  at  Trenton,  having  previously  left 
a  detachment  from  the#  main  body  at  Princei 
town,  for  the  soppoll:  of  that  place.  This 
was  a  trying  time,  for  our  worthy  General, 
though  in  pobsession  of  a  late  most  astonish- 
ing victory,  was  by  no  means  able  to  with- 
stand the  collective  force  of  the  enemy  ;  but 
his  sagacity  soon  suggested  a  stratagem  to  ef- 
fect that  which,  by  force,  to  him  was  at  that 
time  impracticable  :  He  therefore  amused  the 
enemy  with  a  number  of  fires,  and  in  the 
^  night  made  a  forced  march,  undiscovered  by 
them,  and  next  morning  fell  in  with  their  rear 
guard  at  Princetown,  and  killed  and  took  most 
of  them  prisoners.  The  main  body  too  late 
perceived  their  rear  was  attacked,  hurried 
back  vvith  all  speed,  but  to  their  nKirtification, 


blow,  to  animate  the  expiring  hopes  of  the  country  ;  and 
on  the  night  of  December  25th,  crossed  the  river,  and 
fell  on  the  enemy  by  sm-prize,  and  took  the  whole  body 
consisting:  of  about  nine,  himdrerl  mpn.  A  ff^w  vtrt^r':* 
killed,  among  whom  was  colonel  Rahl  the  commander. 

Ipr(;dsie7-'s  Elemcntst 


ifA 


3*s 


»'H- 


f 


m 


«: 


18 


COL.  E.  ALLIn's  observations. 


found  they  Were  out-generalled,  and  baffled 
by  Gen.  Washington,  who  was  retii^d  with 
his  little  army  towards  Morristown,  and  was 
^t  of  their  power.*  These  repeated  suc- 
^ses,  onq  on  the  balk  of  the  other,  cha- 
grined  the  enemy  prodigiously,  and  had  an 
amazing  operation  in  the  scale  of  American 
politics,  and  undoubtedly  was  one  of  the  corn- 
er  stones,  on  which  their  fair  structure  of  In- 
dependency has  been  fabricated  ;    for   the 


f  t 


On  the  2d  of  January  1777,  lord  Cornwallis  appear- 

misMnl  /'r^^?'  ^^^^^^  ?t»'«»^  body  of  troops.  Skir- 
mishing took  place,  and  impeded  the  march  of  the  Brit- 
ish army,  until  the  Americans  had  secured  their  artiHt- 
ry  and  baggage  ;  when  tliey  retired  to  the  southward  of 

pass  tlie  bridge.  As  general  Washington's  force  was* 
no  sufficient  to  rneet  the  enemy,  and  his  situation  was 
criucal,  he  detcrn^med,  with  the  advdce  of  a  council  of 
war,  to  attempt  a  stratagem.  He  gave  orders  for  the 
troops  to  light  fires  in  their  camp,  [which  were  irtend- 
ed  to  deceive  the  enemy,]  and  be  prepared  to  march. 
Accordingly  at  twelve  o'clock  at  night  the  troops  left 
the  ground,  and  by  a  circuitous  march,  eluded  the  vit?i- 
lanceot  the  enemy,  and  early  in  the  morning  appeared 
at  Princctown.  A  smart  action  ensued,  but  the  liritish 
troops  gave  way.  A  party  took  refuge  in  the  college,  a 
budding  with  st.ong  stone  wails,  but  were  forced  to  sur- 
render. The  enemy  lost  m  killed,  wrunded  and  piir.. 
oners,  about  five  hunch-ed  men.  The  Americans  lost 
-JUt  icw  »ucu  i  but  auiuny;  them  was  a  most  valuable  otH- 
ccr,  general  Mercer.  [  Wtbatcr's  EU mcnta. 


d  baffled 
^d  with 
and  was 
ted  suc- 
sr,  cha- 
had  an 
merican 
he  corn- 
•e  of  In- 
fer   the 


IS  appear- 
s.       Skir- 
ihe  Brit- 
ir  artiWt- 
hward  of 
ttempt  to 
force  was* 
at  ion  was 
ouncil   of 
i   for  the 
'e  intend- 
)  march, 
oops    left 
the  vi^i- 
appeared 
I  IJrilish 
oileg;e,  a 
d  to  sur- 
uid  piir,. 
cans  lost 
lublc  otfi- 
Umcnts* 


DURIl^e    HIS    CAPTIVITY*  Up^ 

country  at  no  one  time  has  ever  been  so  much 
dispirited  as  just  before  the  morning  of  this 
glorious  success,  which  in  part  dispelled  the 
gloomy  clouds  of  oppression  and  slaverj", 
Which  lay  pending  o^  America,  big  wAi 
the  ruin  of  this  and  future  gene^tions,  and 
Enlightened  and  spirited  her  sons  to  redotjble 
their  blows  on  a,  merciless,  and  haiightjr,  and, 
I  may  add,  perfidious  enemy, 

Farthermore,  this  success  had  a  mighty  ef- 
fect on  Gen.  Howe  and  his  council,  and  reus- 
ed them  to  a  sense  of  their  own  weakness, 
and  convinced  them  that  they  were  neither 
omniscient  nor  omnipotent.     Their  obduradjr 
and  death-designing  malevolence,   in  some 
measure,   abated  or  was  suspended.     The 
prisoners,  who  were  condemned  to  the  most 
wretched  and  crudest  of  deaths,  and  who 
survived  to  this  period,  though  most  of  them 
died  before,  were  immediately  ordered  to  be 
sent  within  Gen.  Washington's  lines,  for  an 
exchange,  and,   in  consequence  of  it,   were 
taken  out  of  their  filthy  and  poisonous  places 
.-.^riv^iii,  aiiu  oviii  out  oi  rsew- York  to 
tlieir  friends  in  haste  ;  several   of  them  fell 


f" 


20 


i 


COL.  E.  Allen's  observations, 


dead  in  the  streets  of  New- York,  as  they  at- 
tempted  to  walk  to  the  vessels  in  the  harbor, 
for  their  intended  ^embarkation.  What  num- 
|)ers  lived  to  reach  the  lines  I  cannot  ascer- 
fjRn,  but,  from  coi^rrent  representations 
which  I  have  since  received  from  numbers  of 
people  who  lived  in  a.id  adjacent  to  such 
parts  of  the  country,  where  they  were  re- 
ceived from  the  enemy,  I  apprehend  that 
most  of  them  died  in  consequence  of  the 
vile  usage  of  the  enemy.  Some,  who  were 
eye-witnesses  of  that  scene  of  mortality,  more 
especially  in  that  part  which  continued  after 
the  exchange  took  place,  are  of  opinion,  that 
it  was  partly  in  consequence  of  a  slow  pois- 
on ;*  but  this  I  refer  to  the  doctors  that 
attended  them,-  who  are  certainly Jhe  best 
judges. . 

Upon  the  best  calculation  I  have  been  able 
to  make  from  personal  knowledge,  and  the 


*  This  conjecture  is  not  probable  ;  and,  however  we 
may  feel  for  the  injuries  of  our  oppressed  fellov/  citi- 
zens, wc  need  not  recur  to  any  thing  but  facts  to  prove 
their  severity.  If  coarse  fare,  and  unwholeaome  aii- 
mtnt  vrure  meant  by  iiic  cuiouci,  loi  ••  oiu *»  |JV4owii, 
it  wasf  no  doubt,  administered  to  thqim. 


ONS, 

they  at- 
i  harbor, 
lat  num- 
ot  ascer- 
mtations 
mbers  of 
to  such 
vere  re- 
end  that 
;  of  the 
ho  were 
ty,  more 
aed  after 
ion,  that 
3W  pois- 
tors  that 
the  best 

een  able 
and  the 


3wcver  wc 

fellow  cili- 

3  to  prove 

esonie  ali- 
_  ^ _i_ »» 


»URINC    HIS  CAPTIVITY. 


inT 


many  evidences  I  have  collected  in  support 
of  the  facts,  I  learn  that,  of  the  prisoners  ta- 
ken on  Long-Island,  fort  Washington,  and 
some  few  others,  at  different  times  and  plac^j 
about  two  thousand  j^rished  with  hunj 
cold  and  sickness,  occasioned  b)i  the  filth  of 
their  prisons,  at  New- York,  and  a  nuniber 
more  on  their  passage  to  the  contiiicntal 
lines  ;  most  of  the  residue,  who  reached 
their  friends,  having  received  their  death 
wound,  could  not  be  restored  by  the  assist- 
ance of  physicians  and  friends  ;  but,  like 
their  brother  prisoners,  fell  a  sacrifice  to  the 
relentless  and  scientific  barbarify  of  Britain. 
I  took  as  much  pains  as  my  circumstances 
would  admit  of,  to  inform  myself  not  only  of 
matteis  of  fact,  but  likewise  of  the  very  de^ 
sign  and  aims  of  Gen.  Howe  and  his  council : 
The  latter  of  which  I  predicated  on  the  for- 
mer, and  submit  it  to  the  candid  public. 

And  lastly,  the  aforesaid  success  of  the 
American  arms  had  a  happy  effect  on  the 
continental  officers,   who  were  on  parole  at 


% 


* , 


■'  » 


^^122       COL.  E.   ALLEN'S  OBSER VATlOXS, 

not  in  a  public  manner,  and,  with  full  bowl* 

and  glasses,  drank  Gen.  Washington's  health, 

and  were  not  unmindful  of  Congress  and  our 

^rthy  friends  on  the  continent,  and  ahnost 

forgot  that  we  were  prisoners. 
r       A  few  days  after  this  recreation,  a  British 
'  officer  of  rank  and  importance  in  their  army, 
whose  name  I  shall  not  mention  in  this  nar-' 
rative,  for  certain  reasons,  though  I  have  men- 
tioned it  to  some  of  my  close  friends  and  con- 
fidants, sent  for  me  to  his  lodgings,  and  told 
me,  "  That  faithfulness,  though  in  a  wrong 
cause,  had  nevertheless  recommended  me  to 
Gen.  Sir  William  Howe,  who  was  minded  to 
make  me  a  Colonel  of  a  regiment  of  new  lev- 
ies, alias  torics,  in  the  British  service  ;  and 
j  proposed  that  I  should  go  with  him,  and  some 

other  officers,  to  England,  who  would  embark 
lor  that  purpose  in  a  few  days,  and  there  be 
introduced  to  Lord  G.  Germaine,  and  proba- 
bly to  the  King  ;  and,  that  previously  I 
should  be  clothed  equal  to  such  an  introduc- 
tion, and,  instead  of  paper  rags,  be  paid  in 
11  hard  cuineas  ?  afVet*  tliic  cKrMiii-i  ^.-^k^^u  .-.:..i- 

Gen.  Burgoyne,   and  assist  in  the  reduction 


OKS. 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


12? 


ill  bowls 
s  health, 
and  our 
i  almost 

I  British 
ir  army, 
his  nar- 
ve  men- 
nd  con- 
md  told 
L  wrong 
i  me  to 
nded  to 
ew  lev- 
e  ;  and 
d  some 
embark 
here  be 
proba- 
usly   I 
roduc- 
paid  in 

luction 


1  ^■■ 


of  the  country,  which  infiillibly  would  be  con- 
quered, and,  when  that  should  be  done,  I 
should  have  a  large  tract  of  land,  either  in  the 
New-Hampshire  grants,  or  in  Connecticut,  it 
would  make  no  odds,^as  the  country  woifft^ 
be  forfeited  to  the  crown."  I  then  replied, 
*'  That,  if  by  faithfulness  I  had  recommend- 
ed myself  to  Gen.  Howe,  I  should  be  loth,  by 
unfaithfulness,  to  lose  the  GeneraPs*  good 
opinion  ;  besides,  that  I  viewed  the  offer  of 
land  to  be  similar  to  that  which  the  devil  of- 
fered Jesus  Christ,  "  To  give  him  all  the 
kingdoms  of  the  world,  if  he  would  fall  down 
and  worship  him;"  wfaen  at  the  same  time, 
that  the  damned  soul  had  not  one  foot  of  land 
upon  earth."  This  closed  the  conversation, 
and  the  gentleman  turned  from  me  with  an  air 
of  dislike,  saying,  that  I  was  a  bigot  ;  upon 
which  I  retired  to  my  lodgings.* 

Near  the  last  of  November  I  was  admitted 
to  parole  in  New- York,  with   many  other 

•This  conduct  of. colonel  Allen,  thoui^h  spring- 
ing from  duty,  ought  not  to  be  passed  over  Without  trib- 
utary pnvjsc.  The  reuistil  of  such  an  offer  and  in  such 
circumstances,  was  highly   meritorious.      Though  the 


!"     « 


* 


124     COL.  t..  Allen's  observations, 

American  officers,  and  on  the  22dday  of  Jan- 
uary,  1777,  was  with  them  directed  by  the 
British  commissary  of  prisoners  to  be  quarter- 
^  on  the  westerly  part  of  Long-Island,  and 
^er  parole  continued..  During  my  imprison, 
ment  there,  no  occurrences  worth  observation 
happened.     I  obtained  the  means  of  living  as 
well  as  I  desired,   which  in  a  great  measure 
repaired  my  constitution,    which  had  been 
greatly  injured  by  the  severities  of  an  inhu- 
man captivity.     I  now  began  to  feel   mysetf 
composed,  expecting  either  an  exchange,   or 
eontinuance  in  good  and   honorable    treat- 
ment;  but  alas  !  my.  visionary  expectations 
soon  vanished.     The  news  of  the   conquest 
of  TiconderogabyGen.  Burgoyne,^"  and  the 

ma.Tof  strict  honouf,  and  rigid  intej^rity,  deems  the 
plaudit  of  his  own  conscience  an  ample  reward  foi-  hU 
best  actions,  it  is  a  pleasing  employment,  to  those  who 
Witness  such  actions,  to  record  them.  It  is  an  incentive 
to  others  to  «  go  and  do  likewise." 

*  In  June,  1777,  the  B'itis'i  army,  amountinr^  to  sev- 
en thousand  men,  hesides  Indians  and  Canadian-^,  com- 
manded by  p^encra!  Burgoyne,  crossed  the  lake  and  laid 
siege  to  Ticonderon^a.  In  a -short  time,  the  enemy 
guned  possession  of  Sugar  Hill,  which  commanded  the 
-.»iii^;j-v.aii  JiiiC5,  ui«u  gcijcrai  SI.  Uiiiir,  with  the  advice  of 
a  council  of  war,  ordered  the  posts  to  be   abandoned. 


lOJTS, 

r  of  Jan- 
l  by  the 
quarter- 
md,  and 
iprison- 
"rvation 
iving  as 
neasure 
id  been 
1  inhu- 

myseff 
^ge,    or 

treat- 
itations 
mquest 
md  the 


sm3  the 

for  hin 

ose  who 

.iiccntive 

■  to  sev- 
»^,  com- 
iiKl  laid 
enemy 
led  the 
dvice  of 
iidoned. 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


125 


advance  of  his  army  into  the  country,  made 
the  haughty  Britons  again  to  feel  their  impor- 
tance, and  with  that  their  insatiable  thirst  for 
cruelty.. 

The  private  prisoners  at  New- York,  aitd 
some  of  the  officers  on  parole,  felt  the  severi- 
ty of  it.  Burgoyne  was  their  to  a  stand  demi- 
god: To  him  they  paid  adoration:  In  him 
the  tories  placed  their  confidence,  "  and  for- 
got the  Lord,  their  God,"  and  served  Howe, 
3urgoync,  and  Knyphausen,*  "  and  became 
vile  in  their  own  imaginations,  and  their  fool- 
ish hearts  were  darkened,  professing"  to  be 
great  politicians,  and  relying  on  foreign  and 
merciless  invaders,  and  with  them  seeking 
the  ruin,  bloodshed  and  destruction  of  their 


The  retreat  of  the  Americans  was  conducted  under  ev- 
ery possible  disadvantage — part  of  their  force  embarked 
in  batteaux  and  landed  at  Skenesborough— a  part  march- 
ed by  the  way  of  Castletown  ;  but  they  were  obliged  to 
leave  their  heavy  cannon,  and,  on  their  march,  lost  great 
part  of  their  baggage  and  stores,  while  their  rear  was 
harrassed  by  the  British  troops.  An  action  took  place 
between  colonel  Wamef,  with  a  body  of  Americans 
and  General  Frazcr,  in  which  the  Americans  were  de- 
feated, after  a  brave  resistance,  with  the  loss  of  a  valua- 
ble officer,  colonel  Francis.         » 

J  Knyphausen,  u  Hessian  General, 

L  2 


r 


I 


126      COI.    E,    ALLEN'S    •BSEEVATI0.V3, 

country,  "  became  fools,"  expecting  with 
them  to  share  a  dividend  in  the  confiscated 
estates  of  their  neighbours  and  countrymen 
who  fought  for  the  whole  country,  and  the  re- 

ngion  and  liberties  thereof: «  Therefore 

God  gave  them  over  to  strong  delusions,  to 
believe  a  lie,  that  they  all  might  be  damned." 
The  25th  day  of  August  I  was  apprehend, 
ed,  and,  under  pretext  of  artful,  mean  and 
pitiful  pretences,  that  I  had  infringed  on  my 
parole,  taken  from  a  tavern,  where  there  were 
more  than  a  dozen  officers  present  and,  in  the 
very  place  where  those  officers  and  myself 
were  directed  to  be  quartered,  put  under  a 
strong  guard,  and  taken  to  New- York,  where 
I  expected  to  make  my  defence  before  the 
commanding  officer  ;  but,  contrary  to  my  ex- 
pectations,   and  without  the  least  solid  pre- 
tence  of  justice  or  a  trial,  was  again  encircled 
with  a  strong  guard  with  fixed  bayonets,  and 
conducted  to    the  provost-gaol  in  a  lonely 
apartment,  next  above  the  dungeon,  and  was 
denied  all  manner  of  subsistence  eitherby  pur- 
chase  or  allowance.     The  second  day  I  offer. 
"■•"  "  6"«i^ii  wr  a  mcai  of  victuals,  but  was  de. 

1 


TIONS, 

ng     with 
>nfiscated 
mtrymen 
id  the  re. 
^herefore 
sions,  to 
amned." 
jrehend- 
lean  and 
i  on  my 
-re  were 
i,  in  the 

myself 
mder  a 
,  where 
3re  the 
my  ex- 
id  pre- 
icircled 
ts,  and 

lonely 
nd  was 
)y  pur- 
[  offer- 

(^as  de« 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVIT?. 


127 

eight 


nied  it,  and  the  third  day   I  c^ered 
Spanish  milled  dollars  for  a  like  tavo 
was  denied,  and  all  that  I  could  get  out  of  the 
Serjeant's  mouth,  was  that,  by  God  he  would 
obey  his  orders.     I  now  perceived  myself«ito 
be  again  in  substantial  trouble.     In  this  con- 
dition I  formed  an  oblique  acquaintance  with 
a  Capt.  Travis,  of  Virginia,  who  was  in  the 
dungeon  below   me,  .through  a  little  hole 
which  was  cut,  with  a  pen-knife,  through  the 
floor  of  my  apartment  which  communicated 
with  the  dungeon  ;    it  was  a  small  crevice, 
through  which  I  could  discern  but  a  very 
small  part  of  his  face  at  once,  when  he  applied 
it  to  the  hole  ;  but  from  the  discovery  of  him 
in  the  situation  which  we  were  both  then  in,  I 
could  not  have  known  him,  which  I  found  to 
be  true  by  an  after  acquaintance.  I  could  nev- 
erthelcss  hold  a  conversation  with  him,  and 
sopn  perceived  him  to  be  a  gentleman  of  high 
spirits,  who  had  a  high  sense   of  honor,  and 
felt  as  big,  as  though  he  had  been  in  a  palace, 
and  had  treasures  of  wrath  in  store  against 
the  British.     In  fine  I  wrao  nixn^t^^^i  „.uu  xi.^ 

""-'-'   •wiicti  iiiv^vi     vVlvii     viiVo 

spirit  of  the  man  ;  he  had  been  near  or  quite 


fc' 


t: 


128 


■,\' 


i 


'■I 


COL.  I."  Allen's  obsejivations, 


four  months  in  that  dungeon,  with  murder- 
ers thieves,  and  every  species  of  criminals, 
and  all  for  the  sole  crime  of  unshaken  fidelitr 
to  his  country;    but  his  spirits  were  above 
dejection,  and  his  mind  unconquerable.  I  en- 
r-iged  to  do  him  every  service  in  my  power, 
and,  in  a  few  weeks  afterwards,  with  the  unit- 
ed petitions  of  the  officers  in  the  provost,  pro- 
cured his  dismission  from  the  dark  mansion 
of  fiends  to  the  apartments  of  his  petitioners. 
And  it  came  to  pass  on  the  3d  day,  at  the 
going  down  of  the  sun,  that  I  was  presented 
with  a  piece  of  boiled  pork,  and  some  biscuit, 
which  the  sergeant  gave  me  to  understand, 
was  my  allowance,  and  I  fed  sweetly  on  the 
same;    but  I  indulged  my  appetite  by  de- 
grees, and,  in  a  few  days  more,  was  taken 
from  that  apartment,   and  conducted  to  the 
next  loft  or  story,  where  there  were  above 
twenty  continental,  and  some  militia  officers, 
who  had  been  taken,  and  imprisoned  there' 
besides  some  private  gentlemen,    who  h^d 
been  dragged  from  their  own   homes  to  that 
filthy  place,  by  tories.     Several  of  every  de- 


<»     ^ 


IONS, 

murder- 
riminals, 
I  fidelity 
'e  above 
le.  len- 
T  power, 
he  unit- 
3st,  pro- 
nansion 
tioners, 
)  at  the 
esented 
biscuit, 
rstand, 
on  the 
by  de- 
taken 
to  the 
above 
fficers, 
there, 
o  h^d 
)  that 
y  de- 


:Pt7RING    HIS    CAPTIVITY, 


I^p 


•»     ^ 


nomination  mentioned  died  there,  some  be- 
fore, and  others  after  I  was  put  there. 

The  history  of  the  -proceedings  relative  to 

the  provost  only,  were  I  particulars   would 

swell  a  volume  larger  than  this  whole  naft-a^ 

,  tive  :  I  shall  therefore  only  notice  such  of  the 

occurrences  which  are  most  extraordinary, 

Capt.  Vandyke  bore,  with  an  uncommon 
fortitude,  near  twenty  months'  confinement  in 
this  place,  and  in  the  mean  time  was  very  ser- 
viceable to  others  who  were  confined  with 
him.      The  allegation  agaiiist  him,   as  the 
cause  of  his  confinement,  was  very  extraor- 
dinary :  He  was  accused  of  setting  fire  to  the 
city  of  New- York,  at  the  time  the  west  part 
of  it  was  consumed,   when  it  was  a  known 
fact,  that  he  had  been  in  the  provost  a  week 
before  the  fire  broke  out ;  and,   in  like  man- 
ner, frivolous  were  the  ostensible  accusations 
against  most  of  those  who  were  there  confin- 
ed ;  the  ca$e  of  two  militia  officers  excepted, 
who  were  t^ken  in  their  attempting  to  escape 
from  their  parole  ;  and  probably  there  mav  be 
some  other  instances  which  mltrht  ni^tifir  cn^K 
a  confinement. 


% 


i  J 


■  130      COL.  E.    XtLEK's    OBSERVATIONS, 

Mr    William  Miller,  a  committee  man. 
from  West  Chester  county,  and  state  of  New- 
York,  was  taken  from  his  bed  in  the  dead  of 
night,  by  his  tory  neighbours,  and  was  starv- 
ed for  three  days  and  nights  in  an  apartment 
of  the  same  gaol;  add  to  this   the  denial  of 
fire,  and  that  in  a  cold  season  of  the  year    in 
which  time  he  walked  day  and  night,  to  de- 
fend  himself  against  the  frost,  and  when  he 
complained  of  such  a  reprehensible  conduct 
the  word  rebel  or  committee  man  was  deem! 
ed  by  the  enem^'  a  sufficient  atonement  for 
any  mhumauity  that  they  could  invent  or  in- 
flict.    He  was  a  man  of  good  natural  under, 
standing,  a  close  and  sincere  friend  to  the  lib- 
erties    of  America,    and    endured    fourteen 
months'  cruel  imprisonment  with  that  magna- 
nimity  of  soul,  which  reflects  honor  on  him- 
self  and  country. 

Major  Levi  Wells,  and  Capt.  Ozias  Bissel, 
were  apprehended  and  taken  under  guard 
from  their  parole  on  Long- Island,  to  the  pro- 
vost,  on  as  fallacious  pretences  as  the  formi 
er,  and  were  there  continued  till  their  ex. 
chiuige  took    place,    which    was  near  five 


noNs, 

ee   man, 
;  of  New- 
'  dead  of 
as  starv- 
partment 
ienial   of 
year,  in 
,  to  de- 
ivhen  he 
:ionduct, 
IS  deem- 
lent  for 
t  or  in- 
imder- 
the  lib- 
fourteen 
magna- 
)n  him- 

Bissel, 

•  guard 
he  pro- 
form- 
sir  ex. 
ar  fi\Q 


DURIITG    HIS    CAPTIVITT. 


1^1 


months.  Their  fidelity  and  zealous  attach- 
ment to  their  country's  cause,  which  was 
more  than  commonly  conspicuous  was,  un- 
doubtedly the  real  cause  of  their  confinement. 
Major  Brinton  Payne,  Capt.  Flahaven,  and 
Capt.  Randolph,  who  had  at  different  times 
distinguished  themselves  by  their  bravery, 
especially  at  the  several  actions,  in  which 
they  were  taken,  were  all  the  provocation 
they  gave,  for  which  they  suffered  about  a 
year's  confinement,  each  in  the  same  filthy 
gaol.* 

A  few  weeks  after  my  confinement,  on  the 
like  fallacious  and  wicked  pretences,  was 
brought  to  the  same  place,  from J^Js  pa»olsj)n 
Long-Island,  Major  Oth^  Holland  Willi 
now  a  full  Col.  in  the^^qontinental  army.  In 
his  character  are  united  thp  gentleman,  offi- 
cer, soldier,  and  friend  ;  he  walked  through 
the  prison  with  an  air  of  great  disdain  ;  said 
be,    *<  Is  this  the  treatment  which  gentlemen 


c,  who 


*  T^e  sufferings  of  the  prisoners  in  New- York, 

remained  fauhfiii    +^  «.u,.:„  .     .  ' 

''  VT'.  '^^  "'cii  coumry  s    cause,  are   stated, 

on  other  authoriues,  besides  that  of  Col.  Allen,  to  have 
been  severe  and  excessive. 


i 


W 


132 

oftl« 


COL.   E.  ALLE 


n's  OBSEBVATIONS, 


from 


continental  army  are  to  expect 
the  rascally  British,  when  i„  their  power  ? 
Heavens  forbid  it  I"  He  was  continued  there 
*out  five  months,  and  then  exchanged  for  a 
British  Major.  ^ 

John  Fell,   Esq.   now  a  member  of  Con- 
gress  for  the  state  of  New-Jersey,  was  taken 
from  his  ownhouse  by  a  gang  of  infamous  to- 
r.es,  and  by  order  of  aBritish  Gen.  was  sent  to 
the  provost,    where  he   was  continued  near 
one  year      The   stench  of  the   gaol,  "which 
vvas  very  loathsome  and  unhealthy,  occasion- 
ed a  hoarseness  of  the  lungs,   which  proved 
fatal  to  many  who  were  there  confined,  and 
reduced  this  gentleman  near  to  the  point  of 
*eWh  ;    he  was  indeed  given  over  by  his 
friends  who  were  aboutj.im,  and  himself  con- 
eluded  he  must  die.     I  could  not  endure  the 
thought  that  so  worthy  a  friend  to  America 
should  liave  his  life  stolen  from  him  in  such 
a  mean,  base,   and   scandalous  manner,  and 
that  his  family  and  friends  should  be  bcreav- 
ed  of  so  great  and  desirable  a  blessing,  as  his 
farther  care,  usefulness  and  example,  mieht 
prove  to  them.     I  therefore  wrote  a  lettcr"to 


flONS, 

pect  from 
ir  power  ? 
ued  there 
iged  for  a 

•  of  Con- 
vas  taken 
nious  to- 
is  sent  to 
led  near 
1,  which 
►ccasion- 

proved 
ed,  and 
)oint  of 
by  his 
elf  con- 
ure  the 
America 
in  such 
-r,  and 
)ereav- 
)  as  his 

mieht 

o  — 

ttcr  to 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


133 


Gen.  Robertson,  who  commanded  in  town, 
and  being  touched  with  the  most   sensible 
feelings  of  humanit)-,   which  dictated  my  pen 
to  paint  dying  distress  in  such  lively  colours 
that  it  wrought  conviction  even  on  the  obdu- 
racy  of  a  British  General,  and  produced  his 
order  to  remove  the  now  honorable  John  Fell, 
esq.  out  of  a  gaol,  to  private  lodgings  in 
town  ;    in  consequence  of  which  he  slowly 
recovered  his  health.     There  is  so  extraor- 
dinary a  circumstance  which  intervened  con- 
cerning this  letter,  that  it  is  worth  noticing-. 
Previous  to  sending  it,   I  exhibited  the 
same  to  the  gentleman  on  whose  behalf  it 
was  written,  for  his  approbation,  and  he  for- 
bid me  to  send  it  in  the  most  positive  and 
explicit  terms  ;    his  reason  was,  «  That  the 
enemy  knew,  by  every  morning's  report,  the 
condition  of  all  the  prisoners,  mine  in  partic- 
ular,  as  I  have  been  gradually  coming  to  my 
end  for  a  considerable  time,  and  they  very 
well  knew  it,  and    likewise   determined  it 
should  be  accomplished,   as  they  had  served  ■ 
many  others ;  that,  to  ask  a  favor,  would  give 

the  merciless  enemy  occasion  to  triumph  ' 

M 


^ 


;^3ga 


134       COL.  E.  ALLEN'S  OBSERVATIONS, 

oyer  me  in  my  last  moments,  and  therefore  I 
will  ask  no  favors  from  diem,  but  resign  my- 
self to  my  supposed  fate/'     But  the  letter  I 
sent  without  his  knowledge,  and  I  confess  I 
had  but  little  expectations  from  it,  yet  could 
not  be  easy  till  I  had  sent  it.     It  may  be  worth 
a  remark,  that  this  gentleman  was  an  Eng- 
lishman born,  and,  from  the  beginning  of  the 
revolution,  has  invariably  asserted,  and  main- 
tained the  cau^e  of  liberty. 

The  British  have  made  so  extensive  an  im- 
provement of  the  provost  during  the  present 
revolution  till  of  late,  that  a  very  short  defi- 
nition will  be  sufficient  for  the  dullest  appre- 
hensions.     U  may  be  with  propriety  called 
the  British  inquisition,  and  calculated  to  sup- 
port their  oppressive  measures  and  designs, 
by  suppressing  the  spirit  of  liberty ;  as  also 
a  place  to  confine  the  criminals,  and  most  in- 
famous wretches  of  thtir  own  army,  where 
many  gentlemen  of  the  American  army,  and 
citizens  thereof,  were  promiscuously  confin- 
ed, with  every  species  of  criminals  ;  but  they 
divided  into  different  apartments,  and  kept  at 
as  great  a  remove  as  circumstances  permit- 


3KS, 


©URING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


135 


refore  I 
ign  my. 
letter  I 
)nfess  I 
t  could 
s  worth 
n  Eng- 
^  of  the 
I  main- 

an  im- 
>resent 
t  defi- 
appre- 
called 
[>  sup- 
signs, 
IS.  also 
)st  in- 
ivhere 
,  and 
Dnfin- 
t  they 
-pt  at 
rmit- 


ted  ;  but  it  was  nevertheless  at  the  option  of 
a  villanous  serjeant,   who  had  the  charge  of 
the  provost,  to  take  any  gentleman  from  their 
room,  and  put  them  into  the  dungeon,  which 
was  often  the  case  :    At  two  different  times  I 
was  taken  down  stairs  for  that  purpose,  by  a 
file  cf  soldiers  with  fixed  bayonets,  and  the 
Serjeant  brandishing  h?s  sword  at  the  same 
time,  and  having  been  brought  to  the  door  of 
the  dungeon,  I  there  flattered  the  vanity  of 
the  Serjeant,  whose  name  was  Keef,  by  which 
means  I  procured  the  surprizing  favor  to  re. 
turn  to  my  companions  ;  but  some  of  the 
high  mettled  young  gentlemen  could  not  bear 
iii5  insolence,   and  det^l^mined  to  keep  at  a 
distance,  and  neither  please  or  displease  the 
villain,  but  none  could  keep  clear  of  his  a. 
buse;    however,   mild  measures    were  the 
best ;    he  did.  not  hesitate  to  call  us  damned 
rebels,  and  use  us  with  the  coarsest  language. 
The  Capts.  Flahaven,  Randolph  and  Mercer, 
were  the  objects  of  his  most  flagrant  and  re' 
peated  abuses,   who  were  many  times  taken 
vi-si.^v-wii,  iiiiu  tiicic  contmued  at  his 
pleasure.     Capt.  Flahaven  took  cold  in  the 


^r 


.-.J  I 


136 


COL.  E.  alien's  observations, 


dungeon,   and  was  in   a  declining  state  of 
health,  but  an  exchange  delivered  him,  and 
m  all  probability  saved  his  life.     It  was  very 
mortifying  to  bear  with  the  insolence  of  such 
a  vicious  and  ill  bred,  imperious  rascal.     Re- 
monsf  ranees  against  him  were  preferred  to  the 
Commander  of  the  town,  but  no  relief  could 
.be  obtained,  for  his  superiors  were  undoubt- 
edly well  pleased  with  his  abusive  conduct  to 
the  gentlemen,   under  die   severities  of  his 
power  ;  apd  remonstrating  against  his  infer- 
iial  conduct,  omy  sciVcu  tO  confirm  him  in 
authority ;  and  for  this  reason  I  never  made 
aay  remonstrances  on  the  subject,  but  only 

stroakedhim,  u^r  I  ^Z  t:l  tZ '::Z  ^'l^i  Z 
cat's  paw  in  the  hands  of  the  British  oflicers, 
and  that,  if  he  should  use  us  well,  he  would 
immediately  be  put  out  of  that  trust,  and  a 
worse  man  appointed  to  succeed  him  ;  but 
there  was  no  need  of  making  any  new  appoint- 
ment ;  for  Cunningham,,  their  provost  mar- 
shal, and  Kecf,  his  deputy,  were  as  great  ras- 
cals as  their  army  could  boast  of,  except  one 

Irwllii'i     I     r\t^%i-\r—         r>»-«      •  .^  1*. .  .«.%  ^v .  •  ~      ^_^~..-         ...1. ._ 

Commissary  of  prisoners ;  nor  can  any  of 


ONS, 

State  of 
m,  and 
as  very 
of  such 
V    Re- 
d  to  the 
F  could 
idoubt- 
duct  to 
of  his 
J  infer- 
him  in 
*  made 
It  only 

i  hut"   o 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY, 


137 


%.fc  ^      Ct. 


fiicers, 
would 
and  a 
I  ;  but 
)point- 
t  niar- 
at  ras- 
pt  one 
10  was 
my  of 


these  be  supposed  to  be  equally  criminal  with 
Gen.  Sir  William  Howe  and  his  associates, 
who  prescribed  and  directed  the  murders  and 
cruelties,   which  were  by  them  perpetrated. 
This  Loring  is  a  monster  I—There  is  not  his 
like  in  human  shape.     He  exhibits  a  smiling 
countenance,  seems  to  wear  a  phiz  of  humant 
ity,  but  has  been  instrumentally  capable  of  the 
most  consummate  acts  of  wickedness,  which 
were  first  projected  by  an  abandoned  British 
council,  clothed  with  the  authoritv  of  a  Howe, 
murdering premeditatedly,  in  cold  blood,near 
or  quite  two  thousand  helpless  prisoners,  and 
that  in  the  most  clandestine,  mean  and  shame- 
ful manner,  at  New- York.     He  is  the  most 
mean  spirited,  cowardly,  deceitful,  and  des- 
tructive  animal  in  God's  creation  below,  and 
legions  of  infernal  devils,  with  all  their  tre- 
mendous horrors,  are  impatiently  ready  to 
receive  Howe  and  him,  with  all  their  detest- 
able accomplices,  into  the  most  exquisite  ag. 
onies  of  the  hottest  region  of  hell  fire.* 

^  The  publishers  >^'DuId  suppress  some  of  the  ^no-n^^-. 
■•■M  expression.  Col.  Allen  Z.^o.^;  ?.li,;  uf  of 

M  2 


158     erojivE.  Allen's  observations, 

The  6th  day  of  July,  1777,  Gen.  St.  Clair, 
and  the  army  under  his  command,  evacuated 
Ticonderoga,  and  retreated  with  the  main 
body  through  Hubbardton  into  Castleton, 
which  was  but  six  miles  distance,  when  his 
rear-guard,  commanded  by  Col.  Seth  War- 
ner, was  attacked  at  Hubbardton  by  a  body  of 
the  enemy  of  about  two  thousand,  command- 
ed by  General  Fraser.  Warner's  command 
consisted  of  his  own  and  two  other  regiments, 
viz.  Francis's  and  Hale's,  and  some  scatter- 
ing  and  enfeebled  soldiers.  His  whole  num- 
ber, according  to  information,  was  near  or 
quite  one  thousand ;  part  of  which  were  Green 
Mountain  Boys ;  about  seven  hundred  out  of 
the  \^liole  he  brought  into  action.  The  ene- 
my advanced  boldly,  and  the  two  bodies  form- 
ed within  about  sixty  yards  of  each  other. 
Col.  Warner  having  formed  his  own  regi- 
ment, and  that  of  Col.  Francis's,  did  not  wait 
for  the  enemy,  but  gave  them  a  heavy  fire 


but,  presuming  the  reader  to  make  all  reasonable  allow- 
ance both  for  the  style,  and  the  matte!*,   it   was  thought 

liiished  by  the  author. 


.  Clair, 
icuated 
e  main 
stleton, 
hen  his 
.  War. 
body  of 
imand- 
lamand 
iments, 
5catter- 
2  num- 
lear  or 
:  Green 
I  out  of 
he  ene- 
s  form- 
other. 
[1  regi- 
ot  wait 
ivy  fire 

le  allow- 
thought 


DURING    HIS  CAPTIVITY. 


139 


from  his  whole  lifie,  and  they  returned  it  with 
great  bravery.  It  was  by  this  time  danger- 
ous for  those  of  both  parties,  who  were  not 
prepared  for  the  world  to  come  ;  but  Colonel 
Hale  being  apprised  of  the  danger,  never 
brought  his  regiment  to  the  charge,  but  left 
Warner  and  Francis  to  stand  the  blowing  of 
it,  and  fled,  but  luckily  fell  in  with  an  incon- 
siderable number  of  the  enemy,  and  to  hi^ 

eternal  shame,  surrendered  himself  a  pris- 
oner.* 

The  conflict  was  very  bloody.     Col.  Fran- 
cis fell  in  the  same,  but  Col.  Warner,  and  the 
ofiicers  under  his  command,  as  also  the  sol- 
diery,  behaved  with  great  resolution.     The 
enemy  broke,  and  gave  way  on  the  right  and 
left,  but  formed  again,  and  renewed  the  at- 
tack ;  in  the  mean  time  the  British  grenadiers, 
in  the  centre  of  the  enemy's  line,  maintained 
the  ground,  and  finally  carried  it  with  the 
point  of  the  bayonet,  and  Warner  retreated 
with  reluctance.     Our  loss  was  about  thirty 
men  killed,  and  thai  of  the  enemy  amounting 

•  See  note  in  pages  124  and  125. 


m 


110 


COL.  E.  Allen's  observations, 


to  three  hundred  killed,  including  a  Major 
Grant.     The  enemy's  loss  I  learnt  from  the 
confession  of  their  own  officers,  when  a  pris- 
oner  with  them.     I  heard  them  likewise  com- 
plain,  that  the  Green  Mountain  Boys  took 
sight.     The  next  movement  of  the  enemy, 
of  any  material  consequence,  was  their  invest- 
ing Bennington,*  with  a  design  to  demolish 
it,   and  subject  its  Mountaineers,   to   wdiich 
they  had  a  great  aversion,    with  one  hundred 
and  fifty  chosen  men,  including  tories,  with  the 
highest  expectation  of  success,  and  having 
chosen  an  eminence  of  strong  ground,  fortifi- 


*  The  Americans  had  collefcted  a  quantity  of  stores  at 
Bennington  ;  to  destroy  which  as  well  as  to  animate  the 
royalists  and  intimidate  the  patriots,  general  Burgoyne 
detached  colonel  Baum,  with  five  hundred  men  and  one 
hundred  Indians.  Colonel  Breyman  was  sent  to  rein- 
force him,  but  did  not  arrive  in  time.  On  the  16th  of 
August,  general  vStark,  with  about  eight  hundred  brave 
niilitia  men,  attacked  colonel  Baum,  in  his  entrenched 
camp  about  six  miles  irom  Bennington,  and  killed  or 
took  prisoners  nearly  the  whole  detachment.  Thenextday 
colonel  Breyman  was  attacked  and  defeated.  In  these 
actions,  the  Americans  took  about  seven  hundred  prison- 
ers and  these  successes  served  to  revive  the  spirits  of 
the  i)eople.  This  success  however  ivas  in  part  counter- 
balanced by  the  advantages  gahied  on  the  Mohawk  by 

-,(.1 _i   Ci.    r ^ .    I 1   ^  i_ ? _     _ i>» _ii    _i  '. /• A.  Qi , , 

"wix,  was  repelled,  and  obliged  to  abf,ndon  the  attempt. 


:»l' 


NS, 

Major 

3m  the 

a  pris- 

e  com- 

s  took 

nemy, 

nvest- 

nolish 

which 

tndred 

iththe 

laving 

fortifi- 


itores  at 
.ate  the 
irgoyne 
id  one 
:>  rein- 
I6th  of 
i  brave 
•enched 
died  or 
lextday 
n  these 
pi'ison- 
)irits  of 
onnter- 
awk  by 

.J,  a  i  _  „ 
'X.  OlUii- 


mpt. 


DURING    HIS     CAPTIVITT.  141 

Qd  it  \vith  slight  oreast  works,  and  two  pieces 
of  cannon  ;  but  the  government  of  the  young 
state  of  Vermont,  being  previously  jealous  of 
^  such  an  attempt  of  the   enemy,  and  in  due 
'  time  had  procured  a  number  of  brave  militia 
from  the  government  of  the  state  of  New- 
Hampshire,  who,  together  with  the  militia  of 
the  north    part  of  Berkshire    county,  and 
state  of  Massachusetts,  and  the  Green  Moun- 
tain Boys,  constituted  a  body  of  despera- 
does,*  under  the  command  of  the  intrepid 
Gen.  Stark,  who  in  number  were  about  equal 
to  the  enemy.     Col.  Herrick,  who  command- 
ed  the  Green  Mountain  Rangers,  and  who 
was  second  in  command,  being  thoroughly 
acquainted  with  the  ground  where  the  eneV 
my  had  fortified,  proposed  to  attack  them  m 
then-  works  upon  all  parts,  at  the  same  time. 
This  plan  being  adopted  by  the  General  and 
his  council  of  war,  the  little  militia  brigade 
of  undisciplined  heroes,  with  their  long  brown 
firelocks,   the  best  security  of  a  free  people 
without  either  cannon  or  bayonets,  was,  on 


142     COL.  E.  Allen's  observations, 

the  16th  day  of  August,  led  on  to  the  attack 
by  their  bold  commanders,  in  the  face  of  the 
enemy's  dreadful  fire,  and  to  the  astonishment 
of  the  world,  and  burlesque  o£  discipline,  car- 
ried every  part  of  their  lines  in  less  than  one 
quarter  of  an  hour  after  the  attack  became 
general,  took  their  cannon,  killed  and  capti- 
vated more  than  two  thirds  of  their  number, 
Avhich  immortalized  Gen.  Stark,  and  made 
Bennington  famous  to  posterity. 

Among  the  enemy's  slain  was  found  Col. 
Baum,  their  commander,  a  Col.  Pfester,  v/ho 
headed  an  infamous  gang  of  tories,  and  a 
large  part  of  his  command  ;  and  among  the 
prisoners  was  Major  Mcibome,  their  sec- 
ond in  command,  a  number  of  British  and 
Hessian  officers,  surgeons,  &c.  and  more 
than  one  hundred  of  the  aforementioned  Pfes- 
ter's  command.*  The  prisoners  being  collect- 
ed together,  were  sent  to  the  meeting  house 
in  the  town,  by  a  strong  guard,  and  General 
Stark  not  imagining  any  present  danger,  the 
militia  scattered  from  him  to  rest  ar.d  refresh 
themselves  ;  in  this  situation  he  was  on  a 
sudden  attacked  by  a  reinforcement  of  on« 


thoi 

con 

pie( 

and 

theii 

retrc 

grou 

hean 

kees. 

abou 

gime 

rived 

being 

accou 

brou^ 

Stark 

the  s< 

gener; 

forced 

parts  i 

a  secoi 

litia. 

ers,  in 

than  oj 

our  los 


ONS, 

attack 
I  of  the 
shment 
ne,  car- 
lan  one 
Dccamc 
I  capti- 
umber, 
il  made 

id  Col. 
tT,  v/ho 
and  a 
>ng  the 
ir  sec- 

sh  and 
I  more 
d  Pfes- 
:ollect- 
;  house 
jeneral 
sr,  the 
refresh 
!  on  a 
of  on« 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVIT7. 


143 


thousand  and  one  hundred  of  the  enemy 
commanded  by  a  Gov.  Skene,  with  two  field 
pieces  :    They  advanced   m  regular  order, 
and  kept  up  an  incessant  fire,  especially  from 
their  field  pieces,  and  the  remaining  militia 
retreating  slowly  before  them,  disputed  the 
ground    inch   by   inch.      The  enemy  were 
heard  to  halloo  to  them,   saying,   stop  Yan- 
kees.    In  the  mean  time.  Col.  Warner,  with 
about  one  hundred  and  thirty  men  of  his  re- 
giment,  who  were  not  in  the  first  action  ar 
rived  and  attacked  the  enemy  with  great  fury 
bemg  determined  to  have  ample  revenge  on 
account  of  the  quarrel  at  Hubbardton,  which 
brought  them  to  a  stand,  and  soon  after  Gen 
Stark  and  Col.  Herrick,  brought  on  more  of 
the  scattered  militia,  and  the  action  became 
general ;    in  a  few  minutes  the  enemy  were 
forced  from  their  cannon,  gave  way  on  all 
parts  and  fled,  and  the  shouts  of  victory  were 
a  second  time  proclaimed  in  favor  of  the  mi. 
htia.     The  enemy's  loss  in  killed  and  prison- 
ers, m  these  two  actions,  amounted  to  more 

than  nrtfi^-thr^m^ 1        ■•  . 

....  „,„„^«,u  ana  two  Hundred  men,  and 
our  loss  did  not  exceed  fifty  men.     This  was 


m 


144     COL.  E.  Allen's  observations, 

a  bitter  stroke  to  the  enemy,  but  their  pride 
would  not  permit  them  to  hesitate  but  that 
they  could  vanquish  the  country,  and  as  a 
specimen  of  their  arrogancy,  I  shall  insert 
General  Burgoyne's  proclamation. 

"  By  John  Burgoyne,  Esq.  Lieutenant- 
General  of  his  Majesty's  armies  in  America, 
Colonel  of  the  Queen's  regiment  of  light 
dragoons,  Governor  of  fort  William  in  North- 
Britain,  one  of  the  Representatives  of  the 
Commons  of  Great  Britain  in  Parliament, 
and  commanding  an  army  and  fleet  employ- 
ed on  an  expedition  from  Canada,  &c.  &c.  &c. 

"  The  forces  entrusted  to  my  command 
are  designed  to  act  in  concert  and  upon  a 
common  principle,  with  the  numerous  armies 
and  fleets  which  already  display  in  every 
quarter  of  America,  the  power,  the  justice, 
and,  w^hen  properly  sought,  the  mercy  of  the 
King. 

**  The  cause,  in  which  the  British  arms  are 
thus  exerted,  applies  to  the  most  affecting  in- 
terests of  the  human  heart ;  and  the  military 
servants  of  the  crown,  at  first  called  forth  for 
the  sole  purpose  of  restoring  the  rights  of  the 


•  tt 


r  pride 

Lit  that 

Lid  as  a 

insert 

enant- 
lerica, 
•  light 
STorth- 
3f  the 
iment, 
aploy- 
;c.  &c. 
imand 
ipon  a 
irmies 
ev€ry 
istice, 
of  the 

ns  are 
ng  iii- 
ilitary 
'th  for 
of  the 


^irmi^G  mt  captivity. 


US 


constitution,  now  combine  with  love  of  their 
country,  and  duty  to  their  sovereign,  the  oth- 
er extensive  incitements. which  spring  from  a 
due  sense  of  the  general  privileges  of  man- 
kind.    To  the  eyes  and  cars  of  the  temper- 
ate part  of  the  public,   and  to  the  breasts  of 
suffering  thousands  in  the  provinces,  be  the 
melancholy  appeal, whether  the  present  unnat- 
ural  rebelliori  has  not  been  made  a  founda- 
lion  for  the  completest  system  of  tyranny 
that  ever  God,  in  his  displeasure,  suffered  for 
a  time  to  be  exercised  over  a  froward  and 
stubborn  generation. 

"  Arbitrary  imprisonment,   confiscation  of 
property,  persecution  and  torture,  unprcce- 
dented   in  the   inquisitions  of  the   Romish 
church,  are  among  the  palpable  enormities 
that  verify  the  affirmative.     These  are  infiict- 
^cd  by  assemblies  and  committes,  who  dare 
to  profess  themselves  friends  to  liberty,  upon 
the  most  quiet  subjects,  without  distinction 
of  age  or  sex,  for  the  sole  crime,    often  for 
the  sole  suspicion,  of  having  adhered  in  prin- 
ciple to  the  government  under  which  they 
were  born,  and  to  which,  by  every  tie,  divine 


146 


COL.  E.  Allen's  observations, 


and  human,  they  owe  allegiance.  To  con- 
summate these  shocking  proceedings,  the 
profanation  of  religion  is  added  to  the  most 
profligate  prostitution  of  common  reason  ; 
the  consciences  of  men  are  set  at  nought ; 
and  multitudes  are  compelled  not  only  to 
bear  arms,  but  also  to  swear  subjection  to  an 
usurpation  they  abhor. 

"  Animated  by   these  considerations^ ;  at 
the  head  of  troops  in  the  'full  powers  of  hc-iLh, 
discipline,  and  valor  ;    determined  to  strike 
where  necessary,  and  anxious  to  spare  where 
possible,   I  by  these  presents  invite  and  ex- 
hort all  persons,  in  all  places  where  the  pro- 
gress  of  this  army  may  point  ;  and  by  the 
blessing  of  God  I  will  extend  it  far,  to  main- 
tain  such  a  conduct  as  may  justify  me  in  pro- 
tecting  their  lands,  habitations  and  families. 
The  intention  of  this  address  is  to  hold  forth 
security,  not  depredation  to  the  country.     To 
those  whom  spirit  and  principle  may  induce 
to  partake  of  the  glorious  task  of  redeeming 
their  countrymen  from  dungeons,  and  re-es- 
tablishin/^-^he  blessings  of  legal  government, 
I  offer  encouragement  and  employment ;  and 
upon  the  first  intelligence  of  tlicir  associa- 


ONS, 

To  con- 
igs,  the 
the  most 
reason  ; 
nought ; 
only  to 
on  to  an 

on&;  at 
fhxr-iLh, 
)   strike 
e  where 
and  ex- 
he  pro- 
.  by  the 
D  main- 
in  pro- 
imilies. 
Id  forth 
y.     To 
induce 
seming 
I  re-es- 
nments 
t  ;  and 
.ssocia- 


DURING   HIS    CAPTIVITT.  147 

tions,  r  will  find  means  to  assist  their  under- 
takings.     The  domestic,  the  industrious,  the 
infirm,  and  ever,  the  timid  inhabitants,  I  am 
desirous  to  nro.tect,  provided  they  remain  qui- 
etly  at  their  houses  ;  that  they  do  not  suffer 
their  cattle  to  be  removed,  nor  their  corn  or 
forage  to  be  secreted  or  destroyed ;  that  they 
do  not  break  up  their  bridges  or  roads  :  nor 
by  any  other  act,  directly  or  indirectly,   en- 
deavour  to   obstruct  the  operations  of  the  • 
Jting's  troops,  or  supply  or  assist  those  of  th« 
enemy.— Every  species  of  provision  brought 
to  my  camp,  will  be  paid  for  at  an  equitabl. 
rate,  and  in  solid  coin. 

"  ^"  'consciousness  of  Christianity,  my  royal 
master's  clemency,  and  the  honor  of  soldier- 
ship, I  have  dwelt  upon  this  invitation,   and 
wished  for  more  persuasive  terms  to  give  it 
impression  :    And  let  not  people  be  led  to 
disi-egard  it,   by   considering  their  distance 
trom  the  immediate  situation  of  my  camp— 
I  have  but  to  give  stretch  to  the  Indian  force, 
under  my  direction,  and  they  amount  to  thous- 
nn.s,  to  overtake  the  hardened  enemies   of 
Great-Bntain  and  America  :  I  consider  them 
the  same  wherever  they  may  lurk. 


148       COL.    E.    AJLLEN's.  OBSERVATIONS, 

*'  If,  notwithstanding  these  endeavours,  and, 
sincere  inclinations  to  effect  them,  the  phreur 
s^  of  hostility  should  remain,  I  trust  I  shall, 
stand  acquitted  in  the  eyes  of  God  and  men, 
in  denouncing  and  executing  the  vengeance 
of  the  state  against  the  wilful  outcasts.— The 
messengers  of  justice  and  of  wrath  await 
them  in  the  field  ;  and  devastation,  famine, 
and  every  concomitant  horror  that  a  reluc- 
tant but  indispensible  prosecution  of  military 
duty  must  occasion,  will  bear  the  way  to  their 
return.  J.  BURGOYNE. 

**  By  order  of  his   excellency  the  Lieut. 
General,  Robt.  Kingston, 

Secretary. 
•*  Camp  near  Ticonderoga,  AthJuly^  1777. 

Gen.  Burgoyne  was  still  the  toast,  and  the 
severities  towards  the  prisoners  were  in  great 
measure  increased  or  diminished,  in  propor- 
tion to   the   expectation   of  conqijcst.      His-> 
very  ostentatious  Proclamation  was    in  thc^ 
hand  and  mouth  of  most  of  the  soldiery,  espe- 
cially the  torics,  and  from  it,  their  faith  was 
raised  to  assurance. — I  wish  my  countrymen,' 
in  general  couW  but  hayc  ajx  J4.^a  of  the  a»- 


ONS, 

irs,  and , 
phreur 
I  shall: 
i  men, 
igeance 
—The 
.  await 
'amine, 
reluc- 
nilitary 
:o  their 
NE. 
Lieut, 

'N,      . 

retary. 

111. 

ind  the 
1  great 
>ropor- 
■'   Hisx 
in  thc^ 
,  espe- 
h  was 
rymen/ 
he  ain 


DURING    HIS  CAPTIVITY. 


149 


suming  tyranny,  and  haughty,  malevolent,  and 
insolent  behavior  of  the  enemy  at  that  time  ; 
and  from  thence  discern  the  intolerable  calam. 
ities  which  this  country  have  extricated  them- 
selves  from  by  their  public   spiritedness  and 
bravery.— The  downfall  of  Gen.  Burgoyne  ',^ 
and  surrender  of  his  whole  army,  dashed  the 
aspiring  hopes  and  expectations  of  the  enemy, 
and  brought  low  the  imperious  spirit  of  an 
opulent,   puissant  and  haughty  nation,  and 
made  the   torics  bite   the  ground  with  an. 
guish,  exalting  the  valor  of  the  free-born  sons 

•General   Burgoyne,  after  collecting  his  forces -in d 

iAiodny      liutthe  American  army  beint?  reinforced  dii 

o^kl      "''"'^'''^^'  Saratoga.    General  Gates  now 
took  the  command,  and  was  aided  by  the   ^enerds  An 
coin  and  Arnold.     On  the  1 9th  of  Sc ntembe^   th.  a  ii' 
leans  attacked  the  Bdtish  arn.y,  and'wS.    L^h  .^v"^ 
that  the  enemy  could  boast  of  no  advant-n<>-..     IflH' 
put  an  end  to  the  action.     The  loss  of    hT'  ' ''''   "*^^'^ 
about  five  hundred      (ienrrni  P  '^^"''"'>'   ^'^» 

a  narrow  pi  s^h  ,vino^!L    ?   ^^^^'^^^"y"'^  ^^^^^  confined  in 

passabirr d^l^r^,  :^t:;  "^f T  ^^'^  "^^'  ^'^• 

in  his  rear— his  boats  hoh^  ^  \  "V -^"^^'^icans  wai 
could  not  retreat!2w  d Ic  nl"''^'''^^^  to  ;c burnt,  and  he 
men  opnos'dl  TT  r  .  "t""^^  ""^  ^'"^t«^^"  thousand 
armies  cam  to  .r  T'  •  ^"  ''^"  ^^'^  ''^  «^tober,  tlie 
Kcneral  F^;^n  ^^econd  action,  in  which  the  British  lost 
Fn  "'fl..^  '^''^  ^^f^.  '^  .^'^eat  number  of  officer,  .ZVHf 

Amerk^.s^the'c^;'';"^ :^^^^'''•     '^  ^^e  part"of ^uic 
coin  and  ArnoIc;::r:::>Zecf"^^^  '"^  '1^?l*i^- 

N  a 


15<>     COL,  ty  allin's^bseiivatj^ons, 

of  America,  an4  raised  their  fam^  and  that  oi; 
their  brave  commanders  to  the  clouds,  and; 
immortalized  Gen*  Gates    with    laurels  o£ 
eternal  duration* — No  sooner  had  the  knowU, 
edge  of  this  interesting  and  mighty  event> 
reached  His  Most  Christian  Majesty^*  who  in; 
Europe  shines  with  a  superior  lustre  in  good^. 
ness,  policy  and  arms,  but  the  illustrious  potr, 
entate,   auspiciously  influenced  by  Heaven  t€k; 
promote  the  reciprocal  interest  and  happiness> 
of  the  ancient  kingdom   of  France,   and  th^j 
new  and  rising  states  of  America,  passed  the 
great  and  decisive  deciee,  that  the  United 
States  of  America,   should  be   free  and  inde- 
pendent. —Vaunt  no  more,  Old    England  ! 
consider  you  are  but  an  island  !  and  that  your 
power  has  been  continued  longer  than  the  ex. 
ercise  of  your  humanity.      Order  your  brok- 
en and  vanquished  battalions  to  retire  from* 
America,  the  scene  of  your  crnelties.      Go 
home  and  repent  in  dust  and  sackcloth  for 
your  aggravated  crimes.     The  cries  of  bfe- 


*  The  colonel,  it  seems,  thoup;h  professedly  a  staunch 
"'Vni^,  c^ri,  whtii  gooti  ogtasiuu  oiTcrs,  spcitk  wvU  oC 
Kinf5;a. 


•l.'iln 


DirSIIfC    KtS-  CJirTlVlTY. 


151 


reaved^arcnts,  widows,  and  orphans,  reach, 

the  Heavens,  and  you  are  abominated  by  eve. 
ry,friendto  Atnerica.      Take  your  friends; 
the.  tories  with  you,  and  be  gonej   and  drink, 
deepof  the  cup  of  humiliationw    Make  peace. 
With  the  princes  of  the  house  of  Bourbon,*, 
for  you  are  in  no  condition  to  wage  war  with, 
them.     Your  veteran  soldiers  are  fallen  in' 
America,  and  your  glory  is  departed.    Be  qui,  '■ 
et  and  pay  your  debts,  especially  for  the  hire, 
of  the  Hessians.     There  is  no  other  way  for  ^ 
you  to  get  into  credit  again,  but  by  reiorma- 
tion  and  plain  honesty,  which  you  have  des- 
pised; for  your  power  is  by  no  means  suffi. 
cjent  to  support  your  vanity.     I  have  had  op. 
portunity  to  see  a  great  deal  of  it,  and  felt  its- 
severe  effects,  and  learned  lessons  of  wisdom, 
and  policy,  when  I  wore  your   heavy   irons 
and  bore  your  bitter  revilings  and  reproach! 

would  be  a  it  is  a'^'':^?^''^"  '"  "  "•  !'>««  E"eland 
ho,,seoflin^""'tf,;"'',P''T,'''^"  "^''»»  after  ,hc 
such  api,.";^  1  .  "  f  '"  "f  :'"•"' '"  ''■•=  ••«»'•  ""t 
-parte  after  <lc  J,      ,  1  "^  ^  ."^'    i:"-'  "?"-'>■  ?f  Bo- 

ciiilenfir ''"''"''""'' ^^   ^i^iwacinjr  in  the  .:<f"uliao'' 


1B2 


COL.  E.  allejt's  observations, 


es.     I  have  something  of  a  smattering  of  phi- 
losophy, and  understand  human  nature  in  all 
its  stages  tolerably  well ;  am  thoroughly  ac- 
quainted  with  your  national  crimes,  and  as- 
sure you  that  they  not  only   cry  aloud  for 
Heaven's  vengeance,  but  excite  mankind  to 
rise  up  against  you.      Virtue,  wisdom  and 
policy  are,  in  a  national  sense,  always  connec- 
ted with  power,  or  in  other  wordb,  power  is 
their  offspring,  and  such  power  as  is  not  direc- 
ted  by  virtue,  wisdom  and  policy,  never  fails 
finally  to  destroy  itself  as  yours  has  done. — 
It  is  so  in  the  nature  of  things,  and  unfit  that 
it  should  be  otherwise  ;  for  if  it  was  not  so, 
vanity,    injustice,     and    oppression,    might 
reign  triumphant  forever,     t  know  you  have 
individuals,  who  still  retain  their  virtue,  and 
consequently    their   honor    and     humanity. 
Those  I  really  pity,  as  they  must  more  or  less 
suffer  in  the  calamity,  in  which  the  nation  is 
plunged  headlong  ;    but  as  a  nation  I  hate 
and  despise  you. 

My  affections  are  Frcnclilfled. — I  glory  in 
Louis  the  sixteenth,  the  <>eiKrous  and  power- 
ful ally  of  these  states  ;  ain  fond  o:  '^.  coniiec- 
tioa  with  so  entcrprizirtg,  Tcc-rnc"],   poiite, 


BJJRXNQ    HIS    CAP^TiyitY. 


m 


courteous,  and,  commercial  a  nation,  and  am 
sure  that  I  express  the  sentiments  and  feelings 
of  all,the  friends  to  the  present  revolution.    I 
begin  to  learn  the  French  tongue,  and  rec- 
ommend it  to  my  countrymen  before   He- 
brew, Greek  or  Latin,  (provided  but  one  of 
them  only  are  to  be  attended  to)  for  the  trade 
and  commerce  of  these  states  in  future  must 
inevitably  shift  its  channel  from  England  to 
France,  Spain,  and  Portugal;  and  therefore 
the  statesman,  politician  and  merchant,  need 
be  acquainted  with  their  several  languages, 
particularly  the  French,   which,  is.  much  in 
vogue  in  most  parts  of  Europe.     Nothing 
could  have  served  so  effectually  .to  illuminate, 
polish,  and  enrich  these  states  as  the  present 
revolution,  as  well  as  preserve  their  liberty. 
Mankind  are   naturally    too  national,    even 
to  a  degree  of  bigotry,  and  commercial  inter- 
cmrsc  with  foreign  nations,  has  a.  great  and. 
necessary  tendency    to     improve   mankind, 
an^l  erase  the  superstition  of  the  mind  by  ac- 
quainting them  that  human  nature,  policy  and 
interest,  are  the  same  in   all  nntJ^nc     nr.A   ^*. 
the  same  time  they  are  bartering  commodir 
ties  for  the  conveniences  and  happiness  of. 


154 


COL.  E.  Allen's  observations, 


each  nation,  they  may  reciprodally  exchange 
such  part  of  their  customs  and  manners  as 
may  be  beneficial,  and  learn  to  extend  chari- 
ty and  good  will  to  the  whole  world  of  man, 

kind. 1  was  confined  in  the  provost- gaol 

at  New- York  the  26th  day  of  August,  and 
continued  there  to  the  third  day  of  May, 
1778,  when  I  was  taken  out  under  guard,  and 
conducted  to  a  sloop  in  the  harbour  at  New- 
York,  in  which  I  was  guarded  to  Statcn-Isl- 
and,  to  ^Gen.  Campbell's  quarters,  where  I 
was  admitted  to  eat  and  drink  with  the  Gen. 
and  several  other  of  the  British  field  officers, 
and  treated  for  two  days  in  a  polite  manner. 
As  I  w^as  drinking  wine  with  them  one  even- 
ing, I  made  an  observation  on  my  transition 
from  the  provost-criminals  to  the  company  of 
gentlemen,  adding  that  I  was  the  same  man 
still,  and  should  give  the  British  credit  by 
him  (speaking  to  the  Gen.)  for  two  days  good 
usage. 

The  next  day  Col.  Archibald  Campbell, 
who  was  exchanged  (or  me,  came  to  this 
place,  conducted  bv  Mr.  Boudinot.  the  then 
American  commissary  of  prisoners,  and  sa- 
luted me  in  a  handsome  manner,  saying  that 


I  i|<li  i^Mmil.ifi-'g 


DURING    HIS    CAPTIVITY. 


155 


he  never  was  more  glad  to  see  any  gentle- 
,  man  in  his  life,   and  I  gave  him  to  under, 
stand  that  I  was  equally  glad  to  see  him,  and 
was  apprehensive  that  it  was  from  the  same 
motive.  The  gentlemen  present  laughed  at  the 
fancy,  and  conjectured  that  sweet  liberty  was 
the  foundation  of  our  gladness  ;    so  we  took  a 
glass  of  wine  together,  andtheni  was  accompa- 
nied  by  gen.  Campbell,  col.  Campbell  Mr.  Bou- 
dinot,  and  a  number  of  British  officers,  to  the 
boat,  which  was  ready  to  sail  to   Elizabeth- 
town-point.     Mean  while  I  entertamed  them 
with  a  rehearsalof  the  cruelties  exercised  to- 
wards  our  prisoners  ;  and  assured  them  that 
I  should  use  my  influence,  that  their  prison, 
crs  should  be  treated  in  future  in  the  same 
manner,  as  they  should  in  future  treat  ours  ; 
that  I  thought  it  was  right  in  such  extreme' 
cases,  that  their  example  should  be  applied 
to  their  own  prisoners  ;    then  exchange'd  the 
decent  ceremonies  of  compliment,  and  part- 
ed.     I  sailed  to  the  point  aforesaid,   and,  in  a 
transport  of  joy,  landed  on  liberty  ground,* 

•f  UfcUk  n?'i'''  '^''  ''^'  ^"^""  °^^^^  °f  ^h«  pleasures 
•t  Ute,  It  IS  uecej^saey,  perhaps,  to  be  for  a  while  deprived 


^$6 


COL.  E.  Allen's  oBSEfiVArioNs^ 


and,  as  I  advanced  into  the  country,  received 
the  acclamations  of  a  grateful  people. 

I  soon  fell  into  company  with  Col.  Shelden, 
of^he  light  horse,  who  in  a  polite  atld  Oblig- 
ing manner  accompanied  me  to  head-quarters, 
Valley  Forge,  where  I  was  courteously  re- 
ceived by  Gen.  Washington,  with  peculiar 
marks  of  his  approbation  and  esteem,  and 
was  introduced  to  most  of  the  generals,  and 
many  of  the  principal  officers  of  the  army, 
who  treated  me  with  respect,  and  after  hav- 
ing offered  Gen.  Washington  tny  farther  ser- 
vice, in  behalf  of  my  country,  as  soon  as  my 


of  them.  Hunger,  though  an  unpleasant  sensation,  gives 
us  a  most  excellent  relish  for  a  well  furnished  repast ; 
and  the  bird,  who  has  recently  escaped  the  confinement 
of  the  fowler,  cleaves  the  ather  with  lighter  pihions  than 
his  fellow,  who  has  long  hopped,  languidly,  from  spray- 
to  spray,  unconscious  of  the  pains  of  captivity.  After 
such  a  recital  of  woes  as  the  reader  has  witnessed,  he  will 
think  that  the  feelings  of  Col.  Allen  on  his  arrival,  must 
have  nearly  repaid  him  for  the  cruelty  of  his  stifferitigs, 
and  the  length  of  his  confinement. 

«  Swift  as  I  move,  where  eartli»s  blest  bUs^ng*  dw el!, 

What  glad  present jraents  my  bosom  swell! 

What  recollections  I  MemoTv'spower*estores, 

Home  of  my  childhood,  thy  beloved  shores  \ 

Fair,  bursting  through  oblivion's  mist,  appear 

Thy  dcef -greert  vale«i  boldhiHs,  and^wtstiMC^*''** 


DBKING    flIS    CArnviTY.  I57 


health,  which  was  very  much  impaired,  would 
admit,  and  obtain  his  licence  to  return  home, 
I  took  my  leave  of  his  extJellency,   and  set 
out  from  Valley  Forge  with  Gen.  Gates  and 
his  suit  for  Fish  Kill,  where  we  arrived  the 
latter  end  of  May.      In  this  tour  the  Gen. 
was  pleased  to  treat  me  with  the  femiliarity 
of  a  companion,  and  generosity  of  a  lord,  and 
to  him  I  made  known  some  striking  circum- 
stances  which  occurred  in  the  course  of  my 
captivity._I  then  bid  farewell  to  my  noble 
Gen.  and  the  gentlemen  of  his  retinue,  and 
set  out  for  Bennington,  the   capital  of  the 
Green  Mountain  Boys,  where  I  arrived  the 
evening  of  the  last  day  of  May  to  their  great 
surprise  ;  for  I  was  to  them  as  one  rose  from 
the  dead,  and  now  both  their' joy  and  mine 
was  complete.     Three  cannon  were  fired  that 
evenmg,  and  next  morning  Col.  Herrickgave 
orders,  and  fourteen  more  were  discharged 
welcoming  me  to  Bennington,  my  usual  place 
of  abode  ;  thirteen  for  the  United  States,  and 
one  for  young  Vermont. 


I 


158  co£.  £•  Allen's  ess£iYATioNS>  &c. 

After  this  ceremony  was  ended  we  moved 
the  flowing  bowl,  and  rural  felicity,  sweeten- 
ed  with  friendship,  glowed  in  each  counte- 
nance, and  with  loyal  healths  to  the  rising 
States  of  America,  concluded  that  evening, 
and,  with  the  same  loyal  spirit, 


I  NOW 


CONCLUDE  MY  NARRATIVE. 


&c. 


ved 
en- 

ate- 
iiiig 


